This comprehensive document outlines measures that the Kosovo institutions intend to take to reach the priorities set out in the European Partnership and to fulfil the Standards for Kosovo.

European Integration Process
Kosovo’s European integration process aims towards closer association with the European Union (EU) with the view to eventual membership. To this end Kosovo participates in the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP), which is the EU’s framework policy towards the Western Balkans. The SAP offers a progressive and multi-faceted partnership of economic and financial assistance, trade concessions and a contractual relationship. It is the key-instrument that drives and monitors EU-compatible practices in the political, economic and sectoral reform processes. The SAP represents a long-term engagement of the EU to the region, both in terms of political efforts as well as financial assistance.

The SAP is adjusted to the level of development of each of the countries concerned, allowing them to move at their own pace towards further European integration. To ensure that Kosovo can fully participate in the SAP the Stabilization and Association Process Tracking Mechanism (STM) was created specifically for Kosovo. The STM establishes a forum for dialogue between Kosovo and the European Union and has so far proven to be a valuable tool to assist the Kosovo authorities in steering Kosovo’s reforms and to ensure that Kosovo benefits fully from the various instruments of the SAP. Important elements of the STM are regular high-level meetings between EC experts and the Kosovo authorities.

In order to make progress within the SAP and towards closer EU approximation the countries need to meet political and economic requirements that are based upon the Copenhagen Criteria. The most urgent priorities that the SAP countries need to address are listed in the so-called European Partnership. These documents, drafted by the European Commission and adopted by the European Council, guide countries’ policies in following EU best practice and in adopting the acquis communautaire (the entire body of European law) and also provide guidance for the EU financial and technical assistance. In addition, in Kosovo’s case the European Partnership also addresses the eight Standards for Kosovo.

The Council of Ministers of the European Union adopted in June 2004 the first European Partnership with Serbia and Montenegro including Kosovo as defined by UNSCR 1244. On 30 January 2006 the Council adopted a new partnership that has been adapted to the progress made over time.

In response to this identification of priorities, the national authorities are requested to draw up a European Partnership Action Plan, outlining which actions the authorities intend to take to reach the priorities and in turn providing an agenda against which to measure progress. In response to the European Partnership presented in January 2006 a new EPAP was developed during the first six months of 2006, which was subsequently adopted by the government of Kosovo in August 2006.

The follow-up of the European Partnership is ensured through the EU’s SAP Annual Reports and the Stabilization and Association Tracking Mechanism. Progress Reports on the implementation of the Action Plan are submitted on a regular basis by the local authorities to the European Commission, which serve as input for the Commission’s Annual Report.

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Standards for Kosovo and European Integration
The process known as ‘Standards for Kosovo’ is based on the same principles that underlie the Copenhagen Criteria and as such the Standards Process and the Stabilization and Association Process have always been parallel and mutually reinforcing. In October 2005, the European Commission, UNMIK and the Office of the Prime Minister agreed to bring the Standards in to the long term European Integration process by developing a single action plan. In addition, the new European Partnership, adopted by the European Council in January 2006, incorporates the essence of the Standards for Kosovo, thereby firmly embedding the values and principles of the Standards process into Kosovo’s European integration work.
This merger allows Kosovo to continue its crucial implementation of the Standards whilst at the same time strengthening its progress in the SAP. UNMIK will as long as required be in a position to report to the UN Security Council on Kosovo’s progress in standards implementation, while the Kosovo authorities will continue to report to the European Commission on the progress vis-a-vis the European Partnership.

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Structure of the Action Plan
The EPAP follows the structure of the European Partnership as it addresses the priorities that have been identified in this document as well as the 109 Standard Goals, which have been allocated under matching European Partnership priorities. These priorities are divided into short-term and medium-term objectives, referring to the envisioned time-frame in which they ought to be fulfilled. The priorities are further grouped according to political and economic requirements, which cover most of the Standard Goals, whereas another section lists priorities in the field of European Standards, mostly referring to requirements that derive from the acquis communautaire.

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Actors in Kosovo
In Kosovo the process of European integration is guided by the PISG Agency for European Integration with the support of the UNMIK Office of European Integration. The drafting process of the EPAP has been coordinated by the Agency with the input from all relevant PISG and UNMIK counterparts and the overall support of the UNMIK Office of European Integration and the Office of the Strategy Coordinator.