A LEGITIMACY QUESTION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: THE KOSOVO NON-RECOGNITION QUAGMIRE

Abstract

Kosovo, the latest breakaway territory in theBalkan region, declared its independencefrom Serbia on February 17, 2008 despite theinternational community’s split over this decision.The European Union noted Kosovo'sdeclaration of independence on 18 Februaryand allowed the member states to decidewhether to recognise Kosovo. However, thereis intransigence among European Union countriesin that five member states – Cyprus (theGreek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus),Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain –refused to recognise Kosovo's independencefor various reasons. Due to this quagmire inthe European Union, Kosovo is far away fromits membership perspective. This situation hasprevented Kosovo from having positive relationswith the European Union and has beenendangering the possibility of accession.In this study, the role of the European Union inthe process leading to the independence ofKosovo and in the post-independence periodis discussed, and the main arguments of theEuropean Union countries that do not recognizeKosovo after the declaration of independenceare discussed. The first part of the study sheds light on the role of the European Unionin the process of Kosovo's independence.In the second part, Kosovo-European Unionrelations after 2008, and in the last part, thereasons of these five Union countries not recognizingKosovo are discussed.The article concludes that the fact that Kosovowas not recognised by all European Unioncountries indicates that unity of action hasnot been established within the Union, whichcould jeopardize Kosovo’s possible accessionprocess, and recommends that the EuropeanUnion should play a more active role in Kosovo’srecognition.