Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has called on the EU to immediately lift “unjust” restrictive measures against the country in his first official meeting with the bloc’s new envoy for Kosovo-Serbia talks, Peter Sørensen.
Kurti welcomed Sørensen to his new role during talks in Pristina, where he outlined Kosovo’s latest political developments and efforts to establish institutions following the country’s recent elections.
The prime minister criticized the EU’s decision to impose measures on Kosovo, arguing that it contradicted the country’s democratic progress. “It is an unhealthy contradiction for the EU to sanction Kosovo at a time when we are making our greatest democratic advancements,” Kurti said, citing international indexes that rank the country’s governance highly.
Dialogue process in focus
Discussions also centered on the EU-mediated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Kurti stressed the need for full and unconditional implementation of the Basic Agreement and Ohrid Annex, which outline the roadmap for normalizing relations between the two nations.
Sørensen, who took over as the EU’s Special Representative for the dialogue, acknowledged the challenges ahead. “The goal is to keep the process moving forward,” he told reporters after the meeting. “I need to speak with people, hear their perspectives, and then assess where we stand. After my discussions here in Pristina, I will also visit Belgrade.”
The new envoy emphasized that his focus is ensuring better services for citizens on both sides, underlining the EU’s commitment to advancing the stalled negotiations.
Sørensen’s visit to Kosovo comes as Brussels prepares to relaunch talks between Pristina and Belgrade after months of little progress.
