INTERPOL rejects Kosovo membership

Summary:

INTERPOL rejected Kosovo membership on 20 November 2018. Kosovo failed to get a two-third majority of the votes, as 68 voted in favour, 51 voted against and 16 abstained.

Further information:

Kosovo blamed Serbia for obstructing INTERPOL membership and consequently raised its tariffs on Serbian and Bosnian goods from 10 percent to 100 percent.

Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, perceived the raised tariffs in violation with the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). CEFTA is a free trade agreement between Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission (UNMIK) on behalf of Kosovo. 

Commentary and Analysis

EurActiv, 20.11.18: Serbia scores victory as Interpol rejects Kosovo membership https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/serbia-scores-victory-as-interpol-rejects-kosovo-membership/

BBC News, 21.11.18: Kosovo hits Serbia with 100% trade tariffs amid Interpol row https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46287975

Deutsche Welle, 22.11.18: Serbia warns Kosovo against escalation in tariff row https://www.dw.com/en/serbia-warns-kosovo-against-escalation-in-tariff-row/a-46413744

Deutsche Welle, 21.11.18: Kosovo slaps 100 percent tariff on Serbian goods after Interpol bid failure https://www.dw.com/en/kosovo-slaps-100-percent-tariff-on-serbian-goods-after-interpol-bid-failure/a-46400277

Balkan Insight, 20.11.18: Kosovo’s Bid to Join Interpol Fails http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-s-bid-to-join-interpol-fails-11-20-2018

Bloomberg, 22.11.18: Kosovo Starts Trade War With Serbs Over Blocked Interpol Bid https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-22/kosovo-starts-trade-war-with-serbia-over-blocked-interpol-entry

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News

Reuters, 21.11.18: Kosovo hits Serbia, Bosnia with 100 percent customs fees after Interpol snub https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-kosovo-serbia-trade/kosovo-hits-serbia-bosnia-with-100-percent-customs-fees-after-interpol-snub-idUKKCN1NQ29W

Euronews, 20.11.18: Kosovo denied entry to Interpol https://www.euronews.com/2018/11/20/kosovo-denied-entry-to-interpol

France24, 20.11.18: Interpol again rejects Kosovo's membership bid https://www.france24.com/en/20181120-interpol-again-rejects-kosovos-membership-bid

EurActiv, 27.11.18: Kosovo’s trade war with Serbia prompts Tirana to push for Albanian unification https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/kosovos-trade-war-with-serbia-prompts-tirana-to-push-for-albanian-unification/

EurActiv, 04.12.18: Kosovo says to maintain its tariffs on Serbia despite EU pressure https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/kosovo-says-to-maintain-its-tariffs-on-serbia-despite-eu-pressure/

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Official

European Union External Action, 21.11.18: Statement by Federica Mogherini on the Kosovo Government decision on taxing goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/54242/statement-federica-mogherini-kosovo-government-decision-taxing-goods-serbia-and-bosnia-and_en

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