GLPS: Kosovo has implemented 18 of 62 reforms, risks losing more than 40 million euros from the Growth Plan

Kosovo has implemented only 18 of the 62 reforms envisaged under its Reform Agenda within the European Union's Growth Plan, while political deadlock has stalled the process and created a risk of losing more than 40 million euros, according to estimates presented today by the Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS), as reported by Ekonomia Online.

A report on the implementation of Kosovo's Reform Agenda for the third semester was presented at a roundtable titled "Kosovo's path towards the EU after political deadlock: Turning a favourable moment into reforms". The report highlighted the low rate of reform implementation and the limited time available to fulfil the remaining obligations.

GLPS Executive Director Nomza Arifi said that political deadlock, which has lasted for more than two years, had cost Kosovo not only time but had also negatively affected institutional performance, the rule of law, public administration and economic development.

"Political deadlock lasting approximately two years has led to a lack of results and cost us a great deal. Not only in terms of time, but also in terms of results in the areas of the rule of law, public administration, economic development and improving citizens' lives. This has significantly affected the implementation of Kosovo's Reform Agenda. According to the government's estimate, more than 40 million euros could be lost due to delays, but we need to wait for the European Union's assessment as well," Arifi said.

She warned that Kosovo must implement another 27 measures by the end of December, with the deadline for these measures set for 31 December this year, while the entire Growth Plan, or Reform Agenda, is due to conclude at the end of August next year.

"Time is not on our side. On the one hand, there is an urgent need to implement the reform measures, while on the other, it is equally important that reforms are of high quality and are not carried out merely to formally fulfil the obligations set out in the Reform Agenda," Arifi stressed.

She emphasised that Kosovo must demonstrate tangible results in implementing reforms in order to make progress towards the European Union. She added that the European perspective should also include opportunities for earlier participation in EU policies and mechanisms, including new models of enlargement and gradual integration.

"It is not enough for us to be the most pro-European people in the Balkans, nor is a merely declarative political ambition sufficient. Concrete reforms must be implemented. At the same time, the EU must offer Kosovo a European perspective," Arifi said.

The report's author and GLPS researcher Besar Gergi said that, according to the government's report, seven of the 13 reform steps with a final deadline of June 2026 had been completed. These steps belonged to the second semester, for which the original deadline was June 2025, with an additional period granted to fulfil the obligations until June this year.

According to him, the government has announced that 18 of the total 62 reforms have been implemented so far, representing approximately 29 per cent.

"From a financial perspective, Kosovo can receive up to 883 million euros under the Growth Plan, but so far it has received only pre-financing funds, amounting to seven per cent," Gergi said.