Jeton Zulfaj, Kosovo’s Chief Negotiator with the European Union, and Valentina Superti, Director for the Western Balkans at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST), opened the 7th Stabilisation and Association Committee meeting between Kosovo and the European Union in Pristina yesterday, according to a joint statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood.
The Committee, co-chaired by Arben Krasniqi and Jiří Pletič, reviewed recent political developments and assessed progress in meeting the political and economic criteria, aligning with EU legislation and standards, and implementing obligations arising from the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.
“The discussions focused on reform priorities across a broad range of areas, building on and endorsing the outcomes of the sectoral subcommittee meetings and special groups held during the seventh cycle of the Stabilisation and Association Dialogue,” the statement said.
While acknowledging progress in several areas, the EU stressed the importance of fully functional institutions to accelerate the reform process.
“The EU underlined that Kosovo’s European future remains a whole-of-society effort, supported by broad and sustained public consensus. In this context, enhanced cooperation among political parties, meaningful consultation with civil society, and engagement with local authorities remain essential for advancing Kosovo’s European agenda,” the statement added.
According to the joint communiqué, the EU welcomed progress in areas related to competitiveness and inclusive growth, particularly in social policy and employment, digital transformation, taxation, economic and monetary policy, education and culture, and customs.
While recognizing recent progress in democracy and the rule of law, the EU emphasized the need to accelerate and prioritize pending reforms, particularly in public administration, freedom of expression, the rule of law, the protection of fundamental rights, and the rights of persons belonging to non-majority communities.
For its part, the Government of Kosovo highlighted the progress achieved and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the reform agenda, implementing the obligations stemming from the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and making full use of the opportunities provided by the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans to accelerate socio-economic development and Kosovo’s European integration.
Both sides agreed to continue their engagement in support of Kosovo’s reform process and its European aspirations.
Describing itself as Kosovo’s strongest and most reliable partner, as well as its largest provider of financial assistance—having invested more than €3.7 billion in Kosovo since 1999—the EU reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kosovo’s progress on its European path.
