The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report drafted by Joost LAGENDIJK (Greens/EFA, NL) on the future of Kosovo and the role of the EU. The report was drafted by 490 in favour to 80 against with 87 abstentions. It supported the UN-led process to determine the final status of Kosovo and endorsed Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's Comprehensive Proposal for a Kosovo Status Settlement. Parliament took the view that sovereignty supervised by the international community is the best option for securing those objectives.

the only sustainable settlement for Kosovo is one which:

- grants Kosovo access to international financial organisations and thus allows it to start its economic recovery and create the conditions for employment creation;

- envisages an international presence in order to maintain the multi-ethnic character of Kosovo and to safeguard the interests and security of the Serb and Roma populations and of other ethnic communities;

- provides international support in order to secure the development of effective, self-sustaining institutions for the entire population of Kosovo, operating in accordance with the rule of law and the basic ground-rules of democracy;

- allows Kosovo to achieve its desire to be integrated in Europe, which in time will lead to relations of mutual interdependence with its neighbours.

Parliament hoped that a strong and clearly pro-European government could be formed soon in Serbia, which would be seriously and positively engaged in seeking a solution to the question of the status of Kosovo. The final settlement should cover inter alia the following aspects: a clear definition of the role and mandate of the international civilian and security presence; provisions on decentralisation which grant substantial autonomy in key areas such as education, health and local security and, in the case of Serb municipalities, allow direct but transparent links with Belgrade; full respect for human rights including the obligation to provide constitutional guarantees for the vital interests of minorities and refugees; the protection of all cultural and religious sites; provisions regarding the establishment of a lightly-equipped, multi-ethnic internal Kosovar Security Force with limited scope, capability and functions, under the strict supervision of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR); international guarantees for the territorial integrity of all neighbouring states.

Parliament underlined that the solution in Kosovo will set no precedent in international law, as Kosovo has been under UN rule since 1999. UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) already contained provisions on the need to resolve the question of Kosovo's final status. The situation regarding Kosovo is in no way comparable with the situation in other conflict regions which are not under UN administration.

Parliament made a series of recommendations on the role and presence of the international community. Whilst it should be staffed in a manner commensurate with its tasks, the international presence in Kosovo should not result in the establishment of a parallel administration or replicate the existing UN-led administration. However, the international community must have direct corrective and, in limited cases, substitution powers in crucial areas such as: safeguarding the vital interests of minorities; the protection of sensitive sites; security; the judiciary and the broader rule of law, particularly in the fight against organised crime.

Parliament was convinced that, in the light of its central role in the implementation of the settlement, the EU should have a decisive say on the final terms of the settlement. Member States should try to reach a single position on the question of Kosovo. Parliament called on Council to endeavour to adopt a common position on the status issue spelling out the minimum requirements of a sustainable, EU-compatible solution for Kosovo. In accordance with Article 19 of the TEU, Member States represented in the UN Security Council would be expected to uphold that common position and to keep the EU Council regularly informed about negotiations. Parliament must also be kept regularly informed. EU Member States that are members of the Contact Group should share their information with the Council and all other Member States. The EU as a whole will bear the international responsibility and the financial burden of the final settlement.

Parliament stated that it was prepared to make available the additional resources required in order to finance the future EU involvement in Kosovo with a view to implementing the status settlement and supporting Kosovo's EU prospects, provided that certain conditions were met, inter alia, that the status settlement supported by the UN Security Council must take adequate account of the Union's common position ; and sufficient advance consultation must take place on the scope, objectives, means and modalities of that mission, so that Parliament can be reassured that the resources are commensurate with the tasks. MEPs supported the establishment of a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) mission in Kosovo that will contribute to the implementation of the status settlement in the field of the rule of law.

Parliament was concerned about the way in which the transition from the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to the new International Civilian Office would be managed. It urged the OSCE to continue to play a major role in Kosovo after the status settlement with regard, in particular, to the monitoring and verification of election processes. It was also deeply concerned about the recent violent demonstrations in Kosovo and called on both sides to exercise the utmost restraint and to make a peaceful conclusion of the status process possible.

Furthermore, Members supported the view that, in the long run, the solution regarding the future status of Kosovo lay also in the fact that both Serbia and Kosovo are due to become part of the EU, together with their neighbours, since the future of the Western Balkans lay in the European Union. Anchoring Kosovo firmly within the Stabilisation and Association Process would, inter alia, strengthen Kosovo's economic relations with Member States and their neighbours in the Western Balkans and facilitate the stabilisation process in the region.

Finally, Parliament called on the Council and the Commission to proceed towards a visa facilitation agreement for Kosovo, as part of the post-settlement phase and along the lines currently negotiated with its neighbouring countries, taking into consideration the lack of consular offices of many Member States and the use, so far, of UNMIK passports.

The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Joost LAGENDIJK (Greens/EFA, NL) on the future of Kosovo and the role of the EU. MEPs in the committee supported the UN-led process to determine the final status of Kosovo and endorsed the proposal put forward by the UN Special Envoy (former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari) for a Kosovo Status Settlement, while avoiding any explicit mention of Kosovo's independence.

The committee said that the "only sustainable settlement" for Kosovo is one which includes the following aspects:

- access to international financial organisations;

- an international civilian and security presence in Kosovo, with a clear definition of its role and mandate;

- clear provisions on decentralisation which grant substantial autonomy in key areas;

- full respect for human rights;

- retention of Kosovo's multi-ethnic character, with protection for cultural and religious sites;

- the establishment of a limited, multi-ethnic internal Kosovar Security Force;

- international guarantees for the territorial integrity of all neighbouring states.

Addressing fears, especially in Russia, that granting Kosovo any form of independence would exacerbate other separatist tensions around the globe, the report "underlines that the solution in Kosovo will set no precedent in international law, as Kosovo has been under UN rule since 1999" and concluded that "the situation regarding Kosovo is in no way comparable with the situation in other conflict regions which are not under UN administration."

The committee also supported the view that, "in the long run, the solution regarding the future status of Kosovo lies also in the fact that both Serbia and Kosovo are due to become part of the EU, together with their neighbours, since the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union." It stressed that the EU Member States should speak with one voice on the Kosovo issue, by adopting a common position in Council "spelling out the minimum requirements of a sustainable, EU-compatible solution for Kosovo", and maintaining it in international fora, especially the UN Security Council. The committee also argued that "the European Union should have a decisive say on the final terms of the settlement." Finally, the report stated that the EP "is prepared to make available the additional resources required in order to finance the future EU involvement in Kosovo with a view to implementing the status settlement and supporting Kosovo's EU prospects."