The Evolution of Kosovo-EU Relations

The territorial dispute of Kosovo is one of the most debatable international issues. The collapse of Yugoslavia led to the dramatic geopolitical change in Europe. In most cases, the Kosovo conflict is studied through the prism of relations with the United States of America. It is explained due to the NATO intervention in 1999 and presence of the largest NATO base in Kosovo. Nevertheless, exactly the European Union is the only international actor, that not simply attempted to establish peace and the rule of law in the region in the past, but still continue to be the main mediator for Kosovo in relations with Serbia and the whole international community. Furthermore, since the breakup of Yugoslavia and especially after the proclamation of unilateral independence, Kosovo has sought integration into the union. Nowadays, Kosovo experiences a deep domestic political crisis that sufficiently challenges its relations with the European Union. The primary purpose of this research is to prove that the EU-Kosovo relations will normalize, and the integration of Kosovo into the union in terms of de facto independence will be continued.