An European Union study on Kosovo's bid to join the bloc is being hampered by the reluctance from member states that have not yet recognised Kosovo's independence, Balkan Insight has learnt.

The "feasibility study" reviews the position of a country on whether it is ready to take the first steps towards membership of the bloc.

The possibility of starting a "feasibility study" for Kosovo next year was discussed at the European Union foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels on December 8.

However, it emerged after the meeting that the word "feasibility" has been omitted from the study the bloc will conduct for Kosovo next year, throwing into doubt whether Kosovo can take the first steps towards EU membership.

"The European Council welcomes the intention of the European Commission to present a study in autumn 2009 which will examine the political and socio-economic development in Kosovo," the conclusions of the EU foreign ministers' meeting read.

"Concerning the feasibility study, or 'study', what is essential is that we analyse on the basis of a clear EU mandate, how we will advance in the economic and social development of Kosovo and how the European perspective of Kosovo can materialise in line with the European perspective of the whole region," Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said after the meeting.

The French presidency of the bloc, which drafted and finalised the conclusions of the meeting, did not want to explain why the term "feasibility" had been removed from the official document from the meeting but promised that Kosovo too will have a feasibility study one day.

"Yes we will offer that (feasibility study), too but it will take time," said French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner.

Sources told Balkan Insight that the removal of the word "feasibility" came at the insistence of those EU countries that have not recognised Kosovo, who argue that "feasibility study" refers to states.

Those countries argue that every definition that refers to Kosovo's "statehood" is not acceptable, sources said.

Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus are reluctant to recognise Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence on February 17 2008.

The most outspoken country from this group is Spain, which allegedly always objects to any EU or Nato initiative on Kosovo, which refers to it as a state.

Source: Balkan Insight