Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti held a high-level meeting with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on the sidelines of the summit in Armenia.
The discussion centered on Kosovo’s European integration path, regional security, and the ongoing dialogue with Serbia. According to an official press release from the Office of the Prime Minister, Kurti utilized the meeting to formally advocate for Kosovo to be granted EU candidate status.
The Push for Candidate Status
Prime Minister Kurti reaffirmed Kosovo’s steadfast commitment to the EU reform agenda. He emphasized that Kosovo’s progress should be recognized through a “fair, merit-based treatment.”
- Reform Agenda: Kurti highlighted the implementation of key legislation, including the Law on Foreigners.
- March 14 Agreement: The recent agreement reached on March 14 was identified as a “new and positive momentum” for Kosovo’s forward trajectory toward the Union.
Regional Issues and the Preševo Valley
A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the challenges facing ethnic Albanians in Serbia. Kurti raised serious concerns regarding the “passivization of addresses” in the Preševo, Medveđa, and Bujanovac municipalities—a process many observers describe as “administrative ethnic cleansing.”
Additionally, he informed Kallas of the obstacles preventing the Government of Kosovo from providing financial support to the Valley, calling for EU attention to these human rights issues.
Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue
The leaders also reviewed the current state of the EU-facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. Kurti underscored the need for the process to be grounded in democratic values and mutual recognition to ensure long-term stability in the Western Balkans.
The meeting with Kallas concludes a productive diplomatic mission for Kurti in Yerevan, where he has met with several European counterparts to shore up support for Kosovo’s international standing.
