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Kosovo's President, Vjosa Osmani, said that the continuation of the punitive measures that the European Union has imposed on the country remains "inexplicable, unjust and unreasonable."
During a meeting with the rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Riho Terras, Osmani sought his support for the lifting of these measures that the European bloc has imposed in 2023.
"President Osmani requested Mr. Terras' support for the swift lifting of these measures, recalling that they harm citizens and undermine trust in the integration process, while Kosovo has met every request submitted by European partners. According to President Osmani, the lifting of the measures would be a strong signal to citizens and an encouraging message for the continuation of reforms," the Kosovo Presidency said in a statement.
The EU imposed several punitive measures on Kosovo in 2023 due to rising tensions in the country's Serb-majority north.
In May of this year, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said during a visit to Kosovo that the bloc has begun phasing out these measures.
She did not indicate which measures have been or may be lifted, but Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty learned at the time from sources in Brussels that the measures that have been lifted relate to the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), the first contractual pact between Kosovo and the EU, and the Western Balkans Investment Framework.
During the meeting with the rapporteur for Kosovo in the EP, President Osmani also emphasized that it is necessary for the country's application for EU membership "to be processed as soon as possible and for membership to be based on merit."
Of the Western Balkan countries, only Kosovo is behind on the European path, as it is the only country that does not even have candidate country status.
Kosovo submitted its application for EU membership in December 2022.
However, this application has not yet even passed the first formal phase, that of review by the EU Council and then sending it for opinion to the European Commission. / REL
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