Oct 14, 2024 – Kosovo will begin allowing citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to travel freely with identity cards starting on January 1, 2025, Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced today at the Berlin Process summit.
Kurti described this move as a crucial step forward in the ongoing Berlin Process, but he emphasized that it was only one of many necessary actions to fully integrate the region. Kosovo has already taken significant steps toward greater mobility, having secured visa-free access to the European Union earlier this year. However, the country still faces challenges with its neighbors, particularly Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Despite the progress we’ve made, a paradox emerged earlier this year when Kosovo citizens could travel freely within the EU but faced barriers to movement in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Kurti said. “While Republika Srpska refuses to ratify the free movement agreement, Kosovo is no longer willing to wait.”
Kosovo was the first in the region to approve the mobility agreement allowing free movement with identity cards, a move that has yet to be fully adopted by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kurti’s announcement reflects Kosovo’s desire to push ahead with regional integration on its own terms.
In his speech, Kurti also urged the European Union to grant Kosovo official candidate status, saying the country has made substantial progress over the past few years. He highlighted Kosovo’s rapid economic growth, increased stability, and efforts to address security challenges as evidence of its readiness for further integration into European structures.
“We’ve made extraordinary strides in democracy and governance. The time has come for Kosovo to be recognized as a candidate country,” Kurti said, marking nearly two years since Kosovo applied for EU membership.
