Barroso stressed that both sides would be responsible for the success of the talks, which are scheduled to start in Vienna on Monday, and that therefore they had to be ready for compromises.
Regardless of the outcome of the talks, the future of Kosovo lies in Europe, Barroso told reporters after meeting the new President of Kosovo, Fatmir Sejdiu.
The EC president called for the protection of minority rights, saying that the Kosovo authorities should make every effort to ensure respect for international standards governing the protection of minority rights.
Sajdiu reiterated that the Albanian majority in Kosovo wanted independence for the province as soon as possible.
Barroso also met representatives of the Serb minority, urging them to participate in the status talks and end their boycott of the Kosovo institutions.
On his tour of the Western Balkans, the EC president was accompanied by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. After visiting Pristina, Barroso and Rehn travelled to Skopje, after which they were scheduled to visit Tirana.