The European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Kosovo, Riho Terras, has prepared a draft report on Kosovo covering political developments, rule of law, the economy, corruption, the dialogue with Serbia, and Kosovo’s EU integration process during 2025.
In the report, 2025 is described as a “lost year” for Kosovo, mainly due to the political stalemate that dominated the year.
The document states that Terras “expresses regret over the paralyzed political process during 2025, which resulted in a ‘lost year’ for Kosovo.” The draft report was published on March 6.
The report also criticizes the failure to elect a new president within the constitutional deadline.
It notes that the Assembly’s inability to elect a president in time pushed the country toward new elections, further deepening the political impasse.
Terras also considers the progress of EU-related reforms insufficient, calling on Kosovo’s authorities to accelerate reforms.
He urges Kosovo institutions to intensify efforts in implementing EU-related reforms, particularly in the areas of rule of law and fundamental freedoms.
Limited Progress on Corruption and Justice
The draft report highlights limited progress in the fight against corruption, expressing concern about the overall results.
It also points out that Kosovo dropped in the Global Corruption Index for 2025, ranking 76th out of 182 countries and territories, three places lower than in 2024, reversing the previous trend of gradual improvement.
The report also notes:
- Limited implementation of the rule of law strategy
- Delays in judicial reforms
- Incomplete membership in the Kosovo Judicial Council and Kosovo Prosecutorial Council
However, the report welcomes some progress in combating organized crime and calls for the swift adoption of a national strategy and action plan against organized crime.
Media Freedom and Institutional Concerns
The report acknowledges Kosovo’s pluralistic media landscape, but expresses concern over declining media freedom.
Kosovo dropped 24 places in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, ranking 99th globally.
Terras also reiterates concerns over attacks and threats against journalists, urging:
- Stronger responses from the prosecution
- Alignment of media legislation with EU standards and international norms
The report also stresses the importance of ensuring sustainable funding and independence for the public broadcaster, calling for balanced and representative oversight of Radio Television of Kosovo.
Disinformation and Interethnic Tensions
Another concern raised in the report is the growing spread of disinformation, especially regarding interethnic tensions, often driven by foreign actors during election periods.
Terras calls for stronger institutional responses and improved media literacy to counter such campaigns.
Dialogue with Serbia and Banjska Attack
The report reiterates the importance of constructive engagement between Kosovo and Serbia to reach a comprehensive and legally binding normalization agreement based on mutual recognition and international law.
It also calls on both countries to implement the Brussels and Ohrid agreements, including:
- The Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities
- Serbia ending its opposition to Kosovo’s membership in international organizations
Terras also stresses that both countries must cooperate to bring the perpetrators of the 2023 terrorist attack in Banjska to justice, expressing regret that Serbia has still not prosecuted those responsible, particularly Milan Radoičić.
Missing Persons and EU Integration
The report also highlights the unresolved fate of 1,590 missing persons from the war, noting that only 26 cases were resolved between April 2024 and September 2025.
Regarding EU enlargement, the report stresses that the process requires consistent reform momentum and calls on Kosovo to accelerate reforms, particularly in rule of law and fundamental rights, in order to stay on track toward EU membership.
Terras reiterates support for Kosovo’s EU membership application submitted in December 2022, while also urging the five EU member states that have not recognized Kosovo to move toward recognition so the country can advance equally with other candidates.
The rapporteur also fully supports Kosovo’s bid to join the Council of Europe and its strategic goal of joining NATO’s Partnership for Peace program.
Next Steps in the European Parliament
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament (AFET) will review draft reports on several EU candidate countries during a meeting scheduled for March 16–17.
After discussions with the EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, committee members will debate draft reports concerning Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Moldova, and Serbia.
Following the presentation of the draft report by Terras:
- Members of the committee may submit amendments
- The AFET committee votes on the report
- The approved report goes to a plenary vote in the European Parliament
Only after completing these steps does the document become an official resolution of the European Parliament.
