MEP from Estonia is appointed rapporteur for Kosovo in the EPP

The Estonian MEP from the European People’s Party (EPP), Riho Terras, was appointed rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament (EP) on Monday.

The European Parliament completed on Monday the list of rapporteurs for the countries of the European Union (EU) enlargement process.

The appointment of Terras to this position was agreed in the EPP group in the Committee for Foreign Policy.

Riho Terras is a former soldier from Estonia, who was also a deputy in the preliminary composition of the European Parliament.

Earlier, the political groups in the EP had agreed to share among themselves the posts of rapporteurs for the countries of the Western Balkans. After that, each group decided to nominate a rapporteur for the respective country.

This time, the EPP group has the post of rapporteur for Kosovo. Traditionally, in the last 20 years, the rapporteur for Kosovo has always been from the ranks of the Green Group. This group saw a drop in support in the last EP elections held earlier this year.

Deputy Onderj Kolar from the Czech Republic has been appointed from the ranks of the EPP as rapporteur for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The rapporteur for Serbia in the EP has been appointed the social democratic deputy from Croatia, Tonino Picula.

From the authorities in Serbia, there have been harsh reactions, often insulting, after the appointment of this former foreign minister of Croatia as a rapporteur for this country.

For North Macedonia, the rapporteur will be the green deputy, Thomas Waitz from Austria.

Liberal MP from Slovenia, Marjan Sharec, will be rapporteur for Montenegro.

The rapporteur for Albania will be the deputy from Austria, Andreas Shrieder.

The rapporteur for Ukraine will be Mikchael Gahler from the EPP, for Moldova Sven Mikser from the Socialists and Democrats, for Georgia Rasa Jukneviciene from the EPP, while for Turkey Nacho Sanchez Amor from the Socialists and Democrats.

These reporters in the next five years will closely follow the developments in the respective countries and will compile the annual reports.

Through these reports, the progress of these countries in the reform process and in fulfilling the criteria for integration into the European Union will be evaluated. These reports are then approved as resolutions of the European Parliament.