The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) is scheduled to vote on a pivotal annual report on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, establishing a firm pro-statehood stance for Kosovo while detailing severe anxieties over the country’s prolonged domestic political paralysis.
The comprehensive assessment, authored by Estonian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Rapporteur Riho Terras, reveals that key parliamentary factions have finalized broad compromise amendments. The consensus guarantees a resilient majority within the European Parliament that backs Kosovo’s European path, even as internal partisan gridlock threatens its access to vital EU funding.
Unwavering Backing for Sovereignty and EU Candidacy
The draft report delivers a powerful diplomatic message to Brussels and the international community, validating Kosovo’s sovereign status and pushing for concrete breakthroughs in its integration timeline. Key legislative demands in the report include:
- Unblocking the EU Membership Application: The document explicitly backs Kosovo’s formal application for EU membership, which was originally submitted in December 2022. It directly calls on the European Council to direct the European Commission to dispatch its technical questionnaire without further delay, allowing for a merit-based evaluation.
- Urgent Candidate Status: The European Parliament urges the Council to act decisively, explicitly recommending that Kosovo be granted official EU candidate status the moment baseline criteria are fulfilled.
- A Call to Non-Recognizers: The report issues a renewed, direct appeal to the five EU member states that do not recognize Kosovo’s statehood (Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, and Romania) to do so immediately, ensuring Kosovo can compete on an even playing field with other Western Balkan candidates. It formally recalls the July 22, 2010, advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled that Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate international law.
Severe Warning: 2025 as a “Lost Year” and Growth Plan Financial Risks
Despite the strong geopolitical support, the European Parliament’s report shifts to a highly critical tone regarding Kosovo’s internal governance. The text explicitly characterizes 2025 as a “lost year” due to crippling institutional deadlock.
[Kosovo's Domestic Gridlock & Financial Risk]
2025 Political Paralysis ──> Failure to Elect a President ──> Third Election Cycle (June 2026)
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[CRITICAL REFORM DEADLINE MISSED]
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Risk of Forfeiting Millions from
the EU Western Balkans Growth Plan
While the document praises the orderly execution of past elections and the initial formation of a government, it deeply regrets the total failure of political factions to forge a cross-party compromise to elect a new President of the Republic.
Because of this systemic failure to secure a head of state, Kosovo has been plunged into another intense electoral cycle ahead of the June 7, 2026, parliamentary vote. The report warns that this persistent state of emergency risks inflicting severe economic damage. Specifically, Brussels emphasizes that Kosovo is on the verge of missing time-sensitive reform deadlines, which could result in the permanent forfeiture of millions of euros allocated under the EU’s €6 Billion Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
Regional Security, Dialogue, and the Banjska Attack
In parallel with the Kosovo document, the AFET committee will simultaneously vote on a corresponding report regarding Serbia. Viewed together, the European Parliament outlines clear regional security mandates:
“The normalization of relations between Prishtina and Belgrade must remain active and energetic,” the report stresses, reiterating that the final, legally binding agreement must be anchored on mutual recognition.
The legislative text demands that Belgrade immediately cease its active campaign to block Kosovo’s admission into the Council of Europe and other international bodies, noting that such obstruction directly violates Serbia’s explicit obligations under the 2023 Brussels and Ohrid agreements.
Furthermore, the European Parliament addresses regional defense initiatives and outstanding security threats. The report officially welcomes the newly minted defense and security cooperation declaration signed between Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia, framing it as a vital strategic tool to counter hostile hybrid threats across the Western Balkans. Concurrently, the text expresses deep, ongoing regret that Milan Radoičić—the masterminding commander behind the September 2023 Banjska terrorist attack—continues to evade accountability and has yet to be brought before a court of law.
