Written question asked by Marquess of Lothian (Conservative) on Friday, 7 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 11 November 2008. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Kosovo: EU Enlargement

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with EU counterparts on the possible accession of Kosovo to the EU.

Answer: The European Council of 19-20 June recalled the European Union's"““willingness to assist the economic and political development of Kosovo though a clear European perspective, in line with the European perspective of the region””."In the Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2008-09 of 21 October, the European Commission states it"““will examine how best Kosovo can take its part in the progress of the region towards integration with the EU in the context of the Stabilisation and Association Process. The outcome of this analysis will be presented in a feasibility study in the autumn of 2009.””"The government welcome this step.As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in his address to the Kosovo Assembly on 5 November, the United Kingdom looks forward to the day when Kosovo assumes its place at the European table.

Secondary information