Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has requested from the European Union that Kosovo be granted candidate country status and membership negotiations be opened, emphasizing that the country should not lag behind in the European integration process.
As part of marking Europe Day, at an event organized by the EU Office in Kosovo, where the European Award of the Year was also awarded, Kurti stated that Kosovo has already witnessed progress in the economy, democracy and rule of law.
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He emphasized that over 80 percent of Kosovo citizens support EU membership, describing this as one of the highest levels of support in Europe.
Kurti stated that Kosovo has made significant progress in several key areas, citing economic growth, democratic advancement, and security.
"We have one of the strongest economic growth rates in Southeast Europe and the strongest in the Western Balkans. We are at the top for democratic advancement according to measurements by the World Justice Project, Freedom House, Transparency International and the World Press Freedom Index," he declared.
According to him, Kosovo has already received recognition on the path towards European integration, citing visa liberalization and applying for EU membership on December 15, 2022.
Kurti added that Kosovo is part of the EU Growth Plan and is working to fulfill its obligations, although there are challenges due to the non-approval of some laws in the Assembly.
"I believe that the EU must work together to secure candidate status for Kosovo and the opening of membership negotiations. There must be unity of commitment in the EU so that Kosovo does not fall behind," Kurti said.
Finally, he emphasized that the EU enlargement process and reforms in Kosovo must go in parallel.
"Your promise is enlargement. Our promise is reforms, and we can and must deliver on both. This is a shared responsibility," he concluded.
Palatova: Kosovo must convince the 27 member states about EU candidate status
The acting head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Eva Palatova, has stated that Kosovo cannot automatically receive candidate status for membership in the European Union, emphasizing that the country must convince all 27 EU member states, reports Ekonomia Online.
In the context of marking Europe Day, on May 9, at an event organized by the EU Office in Kosovo, she said that Brussels expects free and fair elections from Kosovo, rapid formation of institutions and advancement of reforms.
"I know, Mr. Prime Minister, that you want the EU to move forward with the membership application, which you submitted during the Czech presidency in Prague. We are here to help you achieve this next goal. But let me be honest, Brussels cannot simply grant candidate status. You have to convince the 27 member states," she said.
Palatova stressed that Kosovo must continue to demonstrate democratic standards and institutional stability.
"And for this, these three key elements are important. Kosovo is and must remain a vibrant democracy. The parliamentary elections that are being held exactly one month from today must, once again, be free, fair and inclusive," she said.
She added that the European Union expects the rapid establishment of institutions after the elections and the continuation of reforms.
"Secondly, we hope to see a rapid formation of institutions. A government based on a strong majority in the assembly, capable of generating strong inter-party compromises, electing a president and advancing the reform agenda. And of course, the multi-ethnic character of Kosovo is of great value to all our member states," she said.
According to her, EU member states are monitoring how Kosovo treats non-majority communities and the implementation of dialogue agreements.
"All our capitals observe its preservation, constructive engagement with all majority communities, so that all Kosovars, regardless of ethnicity, feel that they have a home and a perspective here. In this regard, we rely on the further implementation of the March 14 agreement. And I know, Mr. Prime Minister, that you reconfirmed this to the High Representative this week in Yerevan," she said.
Palatova added that the EU expects good faith implementation of the agreements and progress in the dialogue facilitated by Brussels.
"We count on the good faith implementation, we count on the momentum that this agreement creates to give further impetus to concrete solutions and progress in the new facilitated dialogue. We count on this basis, through the cooperation of the Kosovo leadership in all political parties, the candidate status to become tangible and the promise from the Thessaloniki Summit of 2003 to become an achievable perspective. Now, I also want to be clear that the European Union of 2003 is not the European Union of 2026," she said.