Panel “Kosovo in the EU” in Vienna: Kosovo should be granted EU candidate status

The European Union is not complete without the Western Balkans, and Kosovo should be granted candidate status as soon as possible, was the key message from the panel “Kosovo in the EU,” held in Vienna and organized by the Austrian association “Friends of Kosovo,” which awarded Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani the “Erhard Busek” prize.

As explained, Osmani received the award for her “outstanding leadership and commitment to peace, democracy, and Euro-Atlantic integration.”

Although she did not accept the award in person, Osmani noted in a video message that the panel was being held three days after the anniversary of the beginning of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, stating that this fact demonstrates that justice always finds its way.

She emphasized that Kosovo’s path to peace had not been easy, but was “built through struggle, as well as a striving for freedom and the commitment of allies.”

Recalling that even neutral Austria supported the NATO intervention, she expressed gratitude to current Austrian officials for their support of Kosovo, including MP Andreas Minnich, MEPs Lukas Mandl and Helmut Brandstätter, as well as Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger.

“Kosovo’s natural place is in the EU and NATO. Kosovo stands for peace, freedom, justice, the rule of law, and friendship with democracies around the world,” Osmani underlined, reiterating that Kosovo is firmly committed to peace, partnership, and a Euro-Atlantic future.

The event began with a minute of silence for construction workers of Kosovo origin who recently died in Vienna.

Event organizer Günter Fehlinger stated that Kosovo belongs in the EU and that, until membership is achieved, such gatherings will continue to be organized. He added that every March—marking the start of the 1999 NATO bombing, which he said “liberated Kosovo”—panels will be held until Pristina joins the Union.

He stressed that Kosovo should be granted EU candidate status without delay.

MP of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and President of the Austrian-Kosovo Society, Andreas Minnich, stated that it must be an important goal for Austria that Kosovo be admitted to the EU.

“Only when all Western Balkan countries become part of the EU will the European idea be fully realized,” Minnich said.

However, he pointed out that the current political situation in Kosovo is extremely difficult.

“After the elections, we once again have an unclear situation, and this concerns us,” Minnich said in his address.

President of the Pan-European Union, Reiner Klute, emphasized that it is in the EU’s interest for the Western Balkans, including Kosovo, to become part of it, as otherwise the region would be left to other powers that pose a threat to Europe.

President of the Austrian-Kosovo Business Association, Ronald Kokelari, highlighted that Austria hosts a large number of entrepreneurs from Kosovo, many of whom hold senior positions.

Kokelari, who came to Austria as a child, also stressed the role of NATO and the bombing in achieving Kosovo’s independence.

Long-time activist Nic Krasniqi pointed to the tradition of friendship between Austria and Albanians.

He recalled that during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria did much to assist Albanians within the Ottoman Empire.

He also noted that former Austrian Foreign Minister Alois Mock invited Kosovo’s first president Ibrahim Rugova to Vienna, thereby opening doors for many students from Kosovo at the University of Vienna.

He added that many individuals in leadership positions in Kosovo’s education sector studied in Vienna, including Albert Hajrulahu, who heads the University of Pristina.

“We can say that leading figures in the field of education in Kosovo studied in Vienna,” Krasniqi added.

Explaining the decision to award Osmani, Minnich emphasized that there is no woman who fights as strongly as she does for Kosovo’s membership in the EU and NATO.

“She builds bridges not only within Europe, but also seeks pathways across the Atlantic. It is always something special to meet with Osmani—to hear her ideas and vision of her Europe with Kosovo, and to discuss important global projects,” Minnich underlined.

He stated that such gatherings are organized to encourage Kosovo’s path toward EU membership.

“It is important to consider various areas in which we can provide support—not only political encouragement. We need to examine measures that can contribute to economic development and other sectors, in order to help Kosovo move into the fast lane on its path to the EU,” Minnich told Kosovo Online after the event.

He added that the current political situation in Kosovo is not satisfactory.

“It is unfortunate that we have such a situation. However, we do not wish to offer advice from the outside. We look forward to having a government with which we can once again work together in the future and achieve a leap toward EU membership,” Minnich concluded.