Daily: EU to discuss Kosovo on July 26

Danas states that its sources expect that formulating a united stance between all 27 member-states would be very difficult task.

Diplomats of the 22 member-states that support Kosovo's independence, but also some of the countries that support Serbia's stance, would insist that Serbia does not make any rushed moves before the ministerial meeting.

Western diplomatic sources believe that the EU would expect Serbia to wait for the EU to discuss the situation that will result from the opinion of the International Court of Justice's opinion on Kosovo's unilateral independence proclamation, which is expected to be given on July 22.

Sources from the countries that have recognized Kosovo told Danas that the West does not want Serbia to propose a resolution to the UN General Assembly for opening new Kosovo status negotiations.

The sources believe that such a move would be considered a "confrontation with the 22 EU member states that have recognized Kosovo's independence."

The sources claim that if Serbia insists on the resolution, there would definitely be a stronger link created between the Kosovo issue and Serbia's European integration.

Danas states that pushing for new Kosovo talks would make it harder for the EU member-states to establish joint policies, which is one of the EU's priorities since the Lisbon Agreement's adoption.

The debate before the ICJ on the legality of Kosovo's independence proclamation that was held in December of last year, exposed the differences in stances within the EU.

Great Britain, France, Germany, Holland, Austria, Denmark, Finland and Bulgaria support Kosovo's independence, while Spain, Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania support Serbia's stance that the Kosovo independence proclamation goes against international law.

A new UN General Assembly debate on the issue would further expose these differences among the EU member-states, Danas writes.