EP report supports Kosovo's European path

The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee voted overwhelmingly on its report on Kosovo on Wednesday in Brussels. The report expresses strong support for Kosovo's EU integration aspirations, reiterates the demand for recognition of independence by all member states, but regrets the political deadlock and polarization that are beset the country even before the elections, and the risk that Kosovo will lose significant financial resources as a result.

The report was approved with 47 votes in favor, 19 against and eight abstentions. 

The Rapporteur for Kosovo, Riho Terras, considered it important for Kosovo to move forward towards integration. 

"It is important that Kosovo remains on the European path and moves forward with integration. The Parliament's report provides an objective and fair assessment of the country's situation. We are highlighting issues that need continued attention, but we also want to emphasize positive developments, such as the opening of the Reform and Growth Funds and the lifting of measures by the Commission," he said.

The report notes that 2025 has been lost due to the political stalemate and that the coming months could also be lost for Kosovo due to the new electoral process, which the country is going through after failing to elect a president. Financial resources from the Growth Plan could be lost as Kosovo will not be able to meet the necessary criteria within the specified time period.

The report was authored by Estonian MEP Riho Terras. The report praised the fact that the 2025 elections were held in an orderly manner, welcomed the formation of the government, but did not provide a compromise on the election of the president.

"Kosovo's application for EU membership, submitted in December 2022, is supported. The call is reiterated for the member states in the Council to invite the European Commission to send the questionnaire without further delay and to provide an opinion based on the merits on the country's application for EU membership.". "It calls on the Council to act quickly, including by granting candidate status when the relevant criteria are met," the text of the contribution states.

“We call on the five non-recognizing countries, which have not yet recognized Kosovo’s independence, to do so without delay, in order to enable Kosovo to advance on an equal footing with other candidates,” the report states. It is also recalled that the International Court of Justice, on July 22, 2010, ruled that Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate international law.

In addition to the report on Kosovo, the report on Serbia was also voted on, calling for progress in the dialogue process for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which, according to the European Parliament, should result in mutual recognition.

The report urges Serbia not to hinder Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe and other international organizations, as this conflicts with the obligations under the agreement on the normalization of relations. It also regrets that Milan Radoićić, the ringleader of the terrorist attack in Banjska, has not yet been brought to justice.

The declaration on cooperation in the field of defense between Kosovo, Albania and Croatia, which helps in confronting hybrid security threats in the region, was also welcomed.

The report is now expected to come up for a vote in the European Parliament.