Kurti: Kosovo a reliable EU partner; von der Leyen: Institutional stability is the foundation for progress

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today that Kosovo was a reliable partner of the EU and upheld European values, adding that he was counting on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s support in securing candidate status for Pristina. The European Commission President stressed that she believed in Kosovo’s European future, but that institutional stability was the foundation for everything else, including progress toward the EU.

“Kosovo is going through an important political moment. Nothing and no one can rewrite Kosovo’s recent history, and 1999 is etched into Europe’s collective memory—the humanitarian crisis and the suffering of your people. The EU has always stood by you. We have been your largest partner and provider of assistance. We support reconstruction, economic development, reforms and the creation of a modern, democratic Kosovo whose future lies within the EU,” von der Leyen said at a joint press conference in Pristina.

She noted that the judgment of the Specialist Chambers had triggered strong emotions, adding that she appreciated the measured response.

At the same time, she stressed that it was a judgment handed down by an independent judicial institution whose mandate must be fully respected.

“Those convicted have the right to appeal, but one thing is clear—the judgment concerns the individual responsibility of the accused. Kosovo’s resistance was not on trial, and we pay tribute to all victims from all communities in Kosovo. Their memory must remain part of the reconciliation process,” the European Commission President said.

She emphasized that institutional stability was “critically important,” noting that it was positive that the Kosovo Assembly and Government had been elected and that the next step was the election of the President.

“We have seen that dialogue among political parties is possible, and institutional stability should be further built on that basis. It is the foundation for everything else, including progress on the EU path,” von der Leyen noted.

She added that she believed in Kosovo’s European future because, as she said, she knew how deeply European the people of Kosovo felt.

“That is the foundation on which we must build and turn aspiration into progress toward EU membership. That is precisely what our Growth Plan is about,” von der Leyen said.

Speaking about the Growth Plan, von der Leyen said that Kosovo had received EUR 62 million in pre-financing out of a total allocation of EUR 882 million.

“We need serious and rapid reforms and fully functioning institutions,” she said.

Von der Leyen announced that negotiations on reducing roaming charges would begin soon, with the ultimate aim of eliminating roaming charges between the EU and the Western Balkans.

She also referred to SEPA, saying that as soon as Kosovo aligned its legislation, it could join the Single Euro Payments Area.

“SEPA can save Balkan companies half a billion euros because transactions will become cheaper,” von der Leyen explained.

She stressed that Kosovo’s European future depended on its society and that Kosovo had to preserve its multiethnic character.

Von der Leyen said that she had seen positive steps in relations with the Serbian community, citing the agreement on missing persons.

Kurti: Kosovo ready for the next step toward EU membership

At the joint press conference with von der Leyen, Kurti said that Kosovo had made progress since their first meeting and that this had been confirmed by independent experts.

“We have recorded the highest economic growth in the region this decade, we are performing well in the fight against corruption, and the rule of law, democratic institutions and the protection of human rights and freedoms have received positive assessments. While there are electoral autocracies in our region, Kosovo has an electoral democracy. Our elections are free and fair. They should be held once every four years, not twice a year,” Kurti stressed.

He said that Kosovo had the lowest public debt in Europe and that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund had removed Kosovo from their lists of fragile and conflict-affected countries.

“Kosovo is a reliable partner and is 100 percent aligned with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, including sanctions against Russia. We uphold the values enshrined in the European treaties. Public support in Kosovo for membership is the highest in the region after Albania,” he explained.

Kurti recalled that five days earlier Kosovo had adopted five of 12 laws that had been submitted to Parliament, where, he said, he was confident they would be adopted swiftly.

“I assure you that no European reform will be delayed,” Kurti stressed.

He said that he had asked von der Leyen for Kosovo to become a member of the Common Transit Convention so that, as he put it, goods could move through Kosovo more quickly and easily.

He noted that the Commission’s annual report found that Kosovo had not regressed in any of the 35 areas assessed, although the level of progress ranged from limited to good.

“Kosovo has done its part, and we are ready for the next step toward EU membership,” Kurti stressed.

He recalled that December would mark four years since Kosovo applied for EU membership and said that it deserved to begin accession negotiations.

“Our progress is clear. We are counting on your support, on you speaking openly in favor of Kosovo, helping us obtain candidate status and reporting to the Council on our aspiration,” Kurti said, again appealing to Bosnia and Herzegovina to ratify the agreement allowing travel with identity cards alone.

Regarding the conviction of the KLA leaders before the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, Kurti said that allegations concerning the “Yellow House” and organ trafficking had not formed part of the charges and that allegations of crimes against humanity and systematic attacks had not been upheld.

“It was clearly stated that this was not a trial of the KLA and that the judgment in no way seeks to undermine the legitimate struggle of the people. We have serious concerns about the findings and the severe sentences, and we believe there are historical, legal and factual errors. We expect these to be corrected on appeal. Justice must be impartial. We cannot allow responsibility to be equated simply because someone wants to create alternative narratives,” Kurti said.

He recalled that this was the European Commission President’s sixth visit to Pristina.

“You first came after the pandemic and, despite all the challenges since then, you have visited us every year. Thank you for supporting Kosovo,” Kurti said.

On Canada and Kosovo

Asked why the model proposed for Canada could not be applied to Kosovo, von der Leyen stressed that the difference was that Canada was not a European country and therefore could not become an EU member.

“Our treaties state that a country applying for membership must be European. Canada is not geographically part of Europe and cannot apply for membership. But we are working toward the closest possible relationship. Kosovo is different. As a European country, you can become a member, and that is the goal we are working toward,” von der Leyen said.

Asked about the European Commission’s position on the proposal to amend the law governing the Specialist Chambers, she stressed that the legal framework fell within Kosovo’s jurisdiction, but that safeguarding judicial independence was essential.

Asked whether he had received a promise that Kosovo would be granted candidate status, Kurti recalled that he had formally submitted the application in December four years earlier.

“Three years ago, we obtained visa liberalization. Until then, we were the only country in the region without visa-free travel to the EU. We are now the only country in Europe without candidate status. We hope that the European Commission and the Council of the EU will approve our application. We are not asking for any privileges, but we believe we deserve candidate status,” Kurti said.

He said he hoped that the Council of the EU would approve Kosovo’s application, adding that he was counting on von der Leyen’s support.

The European Commission President said that efforts were under way to persuade all 27 Member States to ask the Commission to issue an opinion on Kosovo’s application.

“I am confident that, over time, we will succeed in achieving that goal. You can count on me. But stable institutions and reforms are essential. The more convincing the progress we demonstrate, the greater the chances that the Council of the EU will request the Commission’s opinion,” she added.