Top EU officials have urged politicians in Kosovo to put aside differences and work together on the difficult path to joining the bloc.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos met top officials and politicians in Pristina on May 5.

They were in Kosovo’s capital "to share the celebrations" after the European Commission recommended a visa-free regime a day earlier. The European Parliament is expected to approve the move within weeks.

The two EU officials also urged dialogue among Kosovo’s lawmakers amid divisions over a deal with Serbia to grant more powers to ethnic Serbs in Kosovo and another on a border demarcation pact with Montenegro.

Opposition lawmakers have used tear gas several times in recent months to disrupt parliamentary sessions to protest the deal.

Kosovo has signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU that is expected to promote economic growth in one of Europe's poorest countries.

Based on reporting by Reuters