EU recognises Kosovo's diplomas for the first time

The European University Association (EUA) has recognised the first 73 university diplomas issued by the university of Kosovo. Belgrade, committed to recognition too; the two countries came to an agreement in the past months, during negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina facilitated by the EU. In giving the news, the EU representative office in Belgrade quoted the EU dialogue facilitator, Robert Cooper; the facilitator maintains that thanks to the recognition of diplomas, young people from Kosovo will be able to continue their studies or find a job in Serbia or in other European countries. Mutual recognition of university diplomas is one of the "technical" agreements Belgrade and Pristina have come to so far; the dialogue between the two countries started in March 2011 with the mediation of the EU. The other agreements concern Kosovo's participation in regional fora and summits, free movement and the "integrated management" of crossing points at the border between Serbia and Kosovo. Serbia does not recognise independence declared by Pristina on February 17th, 2008. Kosovo's independence has been recognised by 91 out of the 193 countries represented at the UN, including the USA and 22 out of the EU's 27 member states, including Italy.