BRUSSELS, May 30 (UPI) -- A Finnish member of the European Commission says the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state is up to the individual members of the European Union.
European Commissioner Olli Rehn said Thursday that he does not agree with European Parliament members who have said the body recognized Kosovo as an independent state by displaying the flag of the self-proclaimed "independent Kosovo," Beta reported Friday.
Rehn said the European Commission "is working on the basis of joint decisions by the European Union" and the commission has "no authority to recognize any state." He said recognizing states is a matter to be decided by EU member countries.
However, he said the European Parliament can act "at its own discretion" within its own structures, such as the display of the Kosovo flag at a meeting between European Parliament representatives and the Kosovo Assembly.
