An interparliamentary committee between Kosovo and the EU has called on the EU Council to give the European Commission a mandate to review Kosovo’s application for EU membership.
Kosovo submitted its application for EU membership in December 2022. Since then, the rotating presidency of the EU Council has been held by five countries: the Czech Republic, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, and Hungary. While the Czech Republic has accepted Kosovo’s application, none of the others have moved forward with it.
The European Commission, working under the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Kosovo, has urged the five member states that have yet to recognize Kosovo’s independence to do so “as soon as possible.” The Commission also expressed support for Kosovo’s bid, reaffirming that future EU members should be assessed based on their individual merits.
Kosovo remains the only country in the Balkans without EU candidate status, and the committee’s recommendations highlighted its commitment to EU integration—a goal widely supported by Kosovo’s citizens.
The discussions also focused on Kosovo’s progress with EU-related reforms, rule of law, minority rights, dialogue with Serbia, regional cooperation, and Kosovo’s participation in international organizations. A key point was the importance of concluding the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue with mutual recognition between the two nations.
Kosovo’s recent moves to foster regional cooperation, including lifting restrictions on imports from Serbia and removing visa requirements for Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens, were also praised.
The committee condemned recent attacks in northern Kosovo, including the one in Banjska in 2023, and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The Commission also expressed regret over ongoing EU sanctions against Kosovo and urged their immediate removal.
The recommendations were discussed during a meeting in Brussels co-chaired by Davor Ivo Stier, head of the European Parliament delegation, and Mimoza Kusari, head of Kosovo’s Assembly delegation.
