Opposition: Letter from Head of EU Mission a new punitive measure against Kosovo and proof that Kurti lacks legitimacy in Brussels

Albanian opposition parties warn that the EU’s notification that its representatives will not meet with Kosovo officials in the government building until a new government is formed represents a new punitive measure from Brussels, and “proves” that Albin Kurti “lacks legitimacy as acting prime minister.”

Head of the EU Mission Aivo Orav, in a letter to Pristina, stated that the “EU will temporarily refrain from meetings with the acting prime minister and ministers inside the Government of Kosovo building until a government with a full mandate is formed.”

LDK MP Armend Zemaj believes this decision should be interpreted as a new punitive measure against Kosovo.

“This is not only a measure, but a major consequence for Kosovo, which has been under economic sanctions for five years, and now this penalty can be called an EU punishment against Kosovo, against Kurti and the government that insists on keeping itself in executive power,” Zemaj told Kosova Press.

He recalled that the LDK had already warned, during the verification of mandates for the new assembly, that it is not possible to hold two positions simultaneously — both as minister and MP.

“This is an excessive craving for power, and it is all linked to electoral and financial interests. Now we have received this response from the EU, which does not recognize the prime minister’s executive role and, despite the Supreme Court’s decision, continues to see him exercising executive functions to the detriment of Kosovo’s budget,” Zemaj emphasized.

AAK MP Time Kadrijaj considers the EU letter worrying, saying it confirms that the caretaker government lacks legitimacy.

“This is worrying, it must be worrying, because it confirms that this government is illegitimate and is forcibly holding Kosovo’s governance hostage. They have no mandate for these functions — neither the prime minister’s position, nor the ministerial posts,” Kadrijaj stated.

She argued that the Self-Determination Movement is deliberately delaying the process of constituting the parliament in order to postpone the next phase — the election of a new government.

“Kosovo is a country under sanctions, and sanctions against this government remain in place because of its failure to respect agreements and its disregard for coordination with international actors. We have been under sanctions for years,” Kadrijaj told Kosova Press.