Citing Russia and IS threat, Kosovo urges faster EU expansion

Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci speaks to Reuters during an interview in Pristina March 27, 2014. REUTERS/Hazir Reka

BERLIN (Reuters) - Kosovo's Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci urged the European Union and NATO to speed up integration of Balkan states or risk the spreading influence of both Russia and Islamist extremists.

Thaci, the first prime minister of independent Kosovo until last year, told Reuters he hoped for tangible results in the coming months, such as a new EU visa regime for Kosovo.