Stabilization Association Agreement between EU and Kosovo

• Author: Safet Beqiri
• Position: University of Tirana
• Pages: 243-249

Vol. 4 No. 1

March, 2018

ISSN 2410-3918

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

243

Academic Journal of Business, Administration, Law and Social Sciences

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

Stabilization Association Agreement between EU and Kosovo

PhD (C.) Safet Beqiri

University of Tirana

Abstract

This article explains the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between EU and

Kosovo, as one of the fi rst agreement which was signed by EU with Kosovo in the process of

EU membership, which opened the door to a clear European integration perspective. The SAA

as an important document for the Western Balkan countries which are part of the Stabilization

and Association Process, is presented as a “guide” for candidate and potential candidate

countries (such as the case of Kosovo with potential candidate country status), within ten

years period of time (as foreseen in the agreement) to fulfi ll all the criteria for joining the

European Union. However, as a result of the di erence from other countries, Kosovo was the

last signatory of this agreement, and with some specifi c specifi cations because of the relations

currently existing between European Union and Kosovo. The SAA for Kosovo is distinguished

for some specifi c specifi cations which di er from those of other countries in the region. Among

its major distinguishing specifi c it is the EU`s approach to political status because it refl ects

its common position with the Union. In this case, the EU has not only managed to establish a

common position, but most of the member states (23 of the total 28) that Kosovo recognized as

an independent state had to be convinced (5 member states of them) about the neutral a itude

towards its political status. However, the European Union has found a solution in order for

Kosovo to be part of the Stabilization and Association Process, like of all other Western Balkan

countries. The inclusion of Kosovo was made possible a er the agreement was reached for

regional and international participation through the use of asterisks with footnote.This is a

solution that the European Union has begun to apply where it refers to Kosovo. This approach

is used in order to interpret the issue of political status form member states to be interpreted

based on their a itudes. This is the best evidence that the common European Union policy,

above all, is a composition of the individual stand of the governments of member states. This

paper will outline some specifi cs that are specifi c to the SAA case for Kosovo unlike other

countries in the region.

Keywords: Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), European Union (EU), Kosovo,

Stabilization and Association Process, membership.

Introduction

Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) is one contract which regulates the

relation between EU and Kosovo, mainly regarding the European integration process

in general. This agreement regulates Kosovo`s political, legal and economic relations

with regarding to EU membership. But especially in the case of Kosovo this agreement

is of special importance, because: fi rst it is the only linking agreement because the EU

in the Stabilization and Association Process only countries can be accepted and not

other political entities. As already announced, this agreement has been challenged

by countries that hold a negative a itude to the issue of political status (well, do not