Maliqi: Easing of sanctions a signal to Kurti, but he keeps introducing new measures

Political analyst Shkelzen Maliqi says that the punitive measures imposed by the European Union on Kosovo in 2023 significantly damaged Kosovo’s budget, and he sees their easing as a signal being sent to Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, who, he notes, is trying to align with EU demands, as well as to Albin Kurti, who occasionally shows rhetorical willingness and says that the US or the EU are serious partners of Kosovo.

"They weren’t harsh, but they were serious sanctions for Kosovo. They are aimed at the government. They have significantly hurt Kosovo’s budget and capital investments because they affected all planned European aid for Kosovo and were linked to the EU accession process," Maliqi told Kosovo Online.

However, he points out that Kurti keeps introducing new symbolic measures, such as the current plan to build two pontoon bridges over the Ibar River.

"They won’t serve any major functional purpose, other than helping him present himself to voters ahead of the elections as the liberator of the north, a place where democracy and the free movement of people should prevail. That is a given, no one is against that. But what is needed is a serious and honest dialogue with the Serbian community across Kosovo, both in the north and elsewhere, because relations have been very poor for decades, since the 1980s and 1990s. A normal democratic order needs to be established everywhere, and everyone, if nothing else, should at least be heard. Positive, agreed-upon measures need to be implemented, not just these unilateral ones," Maliqi emphasized.