Kosovo: MEPs call for acceleration of EU-related reforms

Progress on electoral reforms, economic resilience, and the protection of fundamental rights

MEPs urge EU to lift its measures against Kosovo immediately

Kosovo and Serbia must avoid unilateral actions that undermine the dialogue process

On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs adopted a report on Kosovo’s progress in 2023 and 2024 towards joining the EU.

Kosovo has made notable strides in electoral reforms, economic resilience, and the protection of fundamental rights, note MEPs, but challenges remain in judicial reform, media freedom, public administration efficiency, and the digitalisation of public services, says the Foreign Affairs Committee report adopted on Wednesday by 48 votes in favour, 19 against and 6 abstentions. It also points out that the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue has yet to yield the expected results.

Kosovo commitment to joining the EU is firm

Kosovo’s determination to join the European Union has been constant and all efforts to bring Kosovo out of the ‘grey zone’ are in the interests of both Kosovo and the EU, stress MEPs in the report. They fully support Kosovo’s application for membership of the Council of Europe, its strategic intention to join the NATO Partnership for Peace programme, and its bids to join other international organisations.

Pointing out that strong political commitment is necessary to establish a solid track record on fighting high-level corruption, MEPs welcome the progress made on adjudicating corruption cases. They also call on Kosovo to continue to enhance the Special Prosecution Office’s capacity to investigate and prosecute high-profile cases of organised crime.

No progress on Belgrade-Pristina dialogue

Calling for the immediate lifting of the EU measures against Kosovo, which are no longer justified as Kosovo has fulfilled the EU requirements, MEPs underline that the measures stand in gross contradiction to Kosovo’s commitment to European values and are hindering the resumption of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in good faith. Pointing out that the dialogue has not yielded the expected results, MEPs urge Kosovo and Serbia to implement the Brussels and Ohrid agreements, including the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities, and the lifting Serbia’s opposition to Kosovo’s membership of regional and international organisations. The two countries should also avoid unilateral actions that could undermine the dialogue process.

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The rapporteur, Riho Terras (EPP, ET), said: “It is clear that Kosovo's integration process needs new momentum – we need a new chapter in the talks between Pristina and Belgrade. It is extremely positive that in Kosovo's political landscape, all major parties are strongly in favour of EU integration. Kosovo's future is in the European family and we will work together on the reform agenda because any future accession must be merit based.”