During an official visit to Barcelona, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti urged the Spanish government to reconsider its long-standing refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence. In an interview with the Catalan newspaper El Periódico, Kurti emphasized that there are no remaining obstacles to a diplomatic breakthrough between Madrid and Pristina.
Rejecting the “Catalonia Parallel”
A central theme of Kurti’s remarks was the debunking of the analogy often drawn between Kosovo’s secession from Serbia and regional movements within Spain, specifically in Catalonia.
“Spain should not equate the case of Kosovo with its own territorial tensions,” Kurti stated. “Serbia committed genocide; there is no way to draw a parallel between Madrid and Belgrade. There is no possible comparison.”
Kurti noted that while Spain is the largest EU and NATO member not to recognize Kosovo, he remains optimistic that this position will change. “I am working toward this and I hope they will act. We have no disputes with Spain. The sooner this changes, the better.”
EU Commissioner: “Encouraging Developments”
The Prime Minister’s comments coincided with a notable exchange in Brussels during an extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET).
Marta Kos, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement, was questioned by the Rapporteur for Kosovo, Riho Terras, regarding the Commission’s efforts to influence the five EU “non-recognizers” (Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Cyprus).
While she declined to provide specific details, Commissioner Kos offered a brief but optimistic assessment:
- The Quote: “Regarding the five non-recognizing states, I follow what is happening, and the development is encouraging,” Kos stated.
- The Context: Her remarks suggest behind-the-scenes diplomatic movement, particularly as the EU seeks to stabilize the Western Balkans amidst the broader geopolitical tensions currently affecting the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Strategic Visit to Spain
Kurti’s presence in Barcelona is part of a broader European outreach strategy. He traveled to the city to participate in the Global Progressive Mobilization (GPM) 2026, a major left-wing summit hosted by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The summit aims to mobilize progressive leaders against shifting global policies—particularly those of the Trump administration in the U.S.—and has provided Kurti with a high-profile platform to engage directly with Spanish political figures and the public.
For Kosovo, Spanish recognition is viewed as a critical “domino” that would likely trigger similar moves from the remaining four EU non-recognizers, effectively clearing the path for Kosovo’s formal EU candidate status and NATO integration.
