Speech of the Minister Vlora Çitaku on the occasion of Europe Day - 9 may 2011

Honored President Jahjaga,
Honored Speaker of the Parliament Krasniqi,
Honored Ambassadors and Ministers


Dear friends,

Coming here to speak in front of you, I met many young Kosovans who were partaking in activities organized for them during this Europe Day. I must say that I love this little tradition that Kosovan government and EU Commission has started here in Kosovo of dedicating this day to youth and children. I see them engaged in all sorts of creative workshops and events. Culture is an important aspect of European integration since in accepting diversity of cultural expression we build a path in easier acceptance of each other’s cultures and this is a cornerstone of the European Union we strive to join. It’s important, I repeat, for our youth and children to learn and accept diversity as one of the essential faces of united Europe.

Seeing teenagers discover EU on this day of Europe, makes me reflect on the first time I heard of the united Europe, and I recall clearly the year 1992. I mention this very often, but I was simply in love with the Eurovision hit “Insieme 1992”, sang by Toto Cutugno, and I sang the song always imagining that something special would happen in 1992, a miracle of sorts.

Mind you, miracle was much needed for the children growing in those times, when apartheid policies were being introduced. Schools were being closed for Albanian children, our parents were being kicked out of their jobs and our worlds were being turned upside down. Life in communist Yugoslavia was not easy for Kosovans, but all of the sudden, things went from bad to worse. Hence, 1992 was a date to look forward to. Maybe some of you in public will remember how many mini markets were named Europe 92 and how many travel agencies that were being opened like mushrooms, to carry Kosovan youth away from the feared Yugoslav Army also took the fashionable name of Europe 92. And then 1992 came and went and things didn’t change for better.

We watched on TV that important thing was happening in Maastricht, EU was being born and we loved the new flag, its blue color and 12 golden stars. I was a kid in love with old school European politicians Hans-Dietrich Genscher of Germany and Alois Mock of Austria, but you see, our lives were getting worse, we were quickly becoming poorer, with less access to school and no access to jobs. This was almost 20 years ago dear friends and honored guests, and people of Kosovo have waited a very long time to become free and take their place in the community of free nations. We did get in the end our own little miracle in form of the joint American and European operation under NATO to expel the Serbian forces from Kosovo.

The path since has been longer than expected and with each year passing, world is not getting any easier and our idealistic vision of problem-less European Union has received a clear reality check. We Kosovans are eager to point out that Kosovo has achieved great and undeniable progress from the 1990’ies. In critical benchmarks such as integration of minorities, decentralization and devolution of power, economic growth and public investments, as well as creation of a sound constitutional system, Kosovo has scored well. 

I am honored to speak in front of Balkan’s first woman president, honored President Jahjaga, and I will take the liberty to point out at her years of service to the people and the nation as a proof of yet another important benchmark being reached in Kosovo: that of gender equality. I keep telling young women and girls to never stop asking for their fair share of the Kosovo’s freedom for if we want to join EU, we may never stop addressing this issue in our society.

But events in European Union and around European Union are unfolding with even greater speed and the road to EU is getting longer, more complex. Many Kosovans feel this is unfair. I also believe that it’s inherently unfair for Kosovan youth to wait longer than all their peers in Balkans for visa free travel. 

But as a government minister, I also have to be responsible and tell people the truth: we, the political leadership of Kosovo, both in position and opposition, will have to do much quicker and firmer steps towards EU to compensate for the unforeseen complications such as the financial meltdown of smaller Euro members and North African democratic revolutions. The EU enlargement fatigue in EU will be dispelled only with credible action in all levels of our government, from the central and down to the municipal level.

It’s appropriate in this moment to recall that the Europe day is celebrated for in this day in 1950, Robert Schuman presented his proposal on the creation of an organized Europe, indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations. This proposal, known as the "Schuman declaration", is considered to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union.

Well Schuman’s proposal even then said that “Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan.” He knew that different countries will have to join in various speeds, following changing plans.

He continues to say that “Europe will be build through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity.” So even 60 years ago, only the path of concrete achievements could lead aspiring nations to the solidarity and this day is a good occasion for us leaders to always be reminded of our roles in achieving results.

On the other hand, I have become a firm believer that, regardless of the complications and moments of skepticism, European solidarity will not diminish or dither before the last of the mainland European countries such as Kosovo, Albania and Serbia join the most democratic union in the modern history. 

In 1992 we learned that it’s not good to put deadlines on miracles, but we also learned that to believe in European Union as a final political destination gives us hope for a better future.

Ministry of Integration will remain committed to engage and obtain a contractual shake of hands with our EU partners so that children and youth that are participating in this year’s events for Europe day, don’t wait another twenty years before they become equal members of European citizenry.