Kosovo's Finance Minister Ahmat Shala says that the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) move last month to back Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence has paved the way for the country to join the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
"We are very optimistic that Kosovo will reach the necessary votes to be part of this very important institution,” Shala said in Brussels today. “Hopefully the time [and] circumstances after the ICJ [ruling] have improved; many countries have shown or sent positive signals."
Although five EU member states have yet to recognize Kosovo, the EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Olli Rehn, today said the European Commission is backing the country's bid to join the EBRD.
Rehn also said the commission will soon release the first tranche of a 30 million euro ($38.45 million) aid package for Kosovo.
Kosovo became a member of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 2009.