Analysts: Dialogue is crucial for Kosovo's progress in EU integration

Experts on the process of European integration in Kosovo assess that the European Union Enlargement Strategy, adopted in the European Parliament, confirms that enlargement has now become a geopolitical priority for Brussels, but emphasize that Kosovo’s progress on that path remains closely linked to the dialogue with Serbia, Kosova Press reported.

Executive Director of the Group for Legal and Political Studies, Njomza Arifi, assessed that in the current security circumstances in Europe the enlargement process is no longer viewed only as part of the EU’s foreign policy, but also as a strategic necessity for the stability of the continent.

She stated that the report also mentions the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia as an important element on the path toward European integration.

“The report confirms that the enlargement process for the European Union has now become a geopolitical priority due to the current security context in Europe. Therefore, the enlargement process is no longer viewed only as part of EU foreign policy, but also as a strategic necessity for security and stability in the region. As for Kosovo, one part that is mentioned relates to the dialogue with Serbia. It is clear that for the EU the integration process, both for Kosovo and Serbia, is closely connected with progress in the dialogue, because the EU has clearly stated that it is not interested in bringing in new members that have bilateral disputes with each other. Therefore, any progress in the dialogue, both for Kosovo and for Serbia, will be progress on the path toward the EU,” she said.

Arifi believes that the internal political situation in Kosovo has also influenced the slowdown of reforms related to the integration process.

“We emphasized that we are entering the second year of a political crisis and that 2025 was a year of stagnation for Kosovo because of that crisis. Accordingly, we did not have progress, not only in the dialogue but also in reforms that are directly related to the European Union. At the moment we are in today, when enlargement is a priority for the European Union, we cannot allow ourselves new political crises that would affect the reforms that Kosovo has committed to on its path of integration,” she stressed.

European integration expert Adrian Zeqiri points out that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia remains one of the key conditions for progress in the integration process.

“The EU has made that clear to both Kosovo and Serbia. This report shows that there has been a stagnation in the dialogue and that without progress in that process there will be no major steps by Kosovo toward European integration,” he said.