Johannes Hahn had no answer to one question

In his report to the European Parliament on the Western Balkans, the Commissioner for Accession Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, said that the prospect of EU accession was the biggest impetus for reforms and processes in the region, and when it came to Serbia, he said that the idea of an agreement with Kosovo would only make sense if there is a prospect of joining the EU.
The outgoing Commissioner in charge of EU enlargement policy in his last address to the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee reiterated that it was a historic mistake not to decide to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania. He pointed out that in the Western Balkans, everyone was encouraged by every positive step towards European integration, but also vice versa.
"If we do not move forward, we lose influence in the countries of the region", Hahn said. He cited Belgrade-Pristina dialogue as an example, stating that both sides want to "make progress and keep up with the region".
"From Serbia's perspective, the idea of striking an agreement with Kosovo will only make sense if there is a prospect of EU accession", Hahn warned.
One of the questions of MEPs, to which Johannes Hahn did not respond, concerned the justification of a possible request to Serbia to recognize Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence through a final agreement with Pristina. "How can we ask Serbia if five of our member states have not done the same", MP Thierry Mariani had asked.
Speaking about the situation in Serbia, Hahn said that the opening of accession negotiations led to increased foreign investment in the country.
Asked about relations between Serbia and Russia, Hahn stressed that one of the key issues was the alignment of Serbia's foreign policy with...

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