Kosovo has officially applied for membership of the European Union. The President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Parliament of Kosovo signed the document to this effect. This is remarkable, because not all EU countries recognize Kosovo.
Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Greece and Cyprus do not yet recognize the country. As a result, EU membership is not yet within Kosovo’s reach. Outside the EU, there are more than a hundred countries that do not recognize the country that seceded from Serbia. According to observers, this step by Kosovo is mainly symbolic.
Kosovo gained independence from Serbia in 2008. Most Albanians live there. Serbian security forces suppressed the Albanian population, which is why NATO decided to bomb the area in 1999. Serbian state bodies then left the region, whereupon Kosovo declared independence eleven years later.
Serbia has never officially renounced its claim to the territory of Kosovo. There are also many tensions in the north of the country. Mostly ethnic Serbs live there.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
