# Kosovo in terms of europian integration

Kosovo, a Balkan country located in the southern part of Serbia, is one of the
newest members of the European Union. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in
2008, and became a member of the United Nations Organization as an independent
state in 2009. Since declaring independence, Kosovars have been working towards
European integration, an effort that continues to this day. Here are some of the
key events in the development of Kosovo's relationship with the EU, and how the
country fits into the larger Euro-Atlantic community.
## History of Kosovo and European Integration
Before becoming a part of Yugoslavia in 1918, Kosovo was part of the Ottoman Empire
for centuries. Despite its lack of formal recognition as an independent state for
most of its history, Kosovo has always been an independent entity in the eyes of
its people. This sense of sovereignty has been nurtured by the long tradition of
tribal and clan loyalty that has been passed down from generation to generation. In
the past, the people relied on their customs and traditions to ensure prosperity
and security in their communities. However, as their traditional way of life began
to disappear in the face of modernization and the encroachment of Western culture,
the Albanian people turned to religion for strength. The leaders of the Muslim
faith encouraged their followers to stay strong in their beliefs and to resist the
efforts of outsiders to assimilate them or change their customs. As these new
tenets of Islam spread throughout the country, the people of Kosovo became fiercely
protective of their religious identity, and they grew increasingly resistant to any
attempt to force them to integrate with other cultures and ways of life.
Despite these efforts, many Albanians still felt that Kosovo was a separate nation
from the rest of Yugoslavia, and they often expressed a strong desire to separate
themselves from the rest of the country. As the divisions within Yugoslavia grew
deeper over the years, it became more and more difficult for the government to
reconcile the interests of the various ethnic groups within the country. Many
Albanians believed that the continued oppression of the Serbian majority in
Belgrade would only be resolved through independence and separation from the
region.

This situation came to a head in 1989, when a series of political upheavals known
as the "Yugoslav Wars" erupted in the region. In an effort to quell the violence
and reunite Yugoslavia under one central government, President Slobodan Milošević
initiated a campaign of ethnic cleansing designed to drive out all of the non-Serb
populations living in Serbia and the surrounding regions. During this time,
thousands of ethnic Albanians fled their homes in search of safety and freedom. In
1992, the government of Yugoslavia officially declared independence from the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and established a new state of Serbia and
Montenegro. Shortly thereafter, the Serbian army launched a massive offensive
against its neighboring states in an effort to reclaim control of its former
territories.
In an effort to end this violence and protect the interests of its people, the
United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the
region.