At the Vienna Economic Forum, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that Serbia should ease entry procedures for foreigners entering its territory through Kosovo, as he believes this would benefit economic development and improve neighborly relations.
On Monday, Kurti explained that anyone entering Kosovo first cannot later travel to Serbia without detouring through North Macedonia “since, for Belgrade, an initial entry through Kosovo constitutes an illegal entry.”
“Our northern neighbor, Serbia, should permit foreigners whose destination is Kosovo to then travel onward to Serbia. Unfortunately, anyone arriving from Austria to Kosovo as their first entry cannot proceed to Serbia without first going through North Macedonia, because, in the view of Belgrade, an initial entry into Kosovo is considered illegal entry into Serbian territory. For good neighborly relations and economic cooperation, this needs to change,” he stated.
Kurti also mentioned the issue of opening Serbian airspace.
“…Serbia’s airspace remains closed to commercial flights to and from Kosovo. This is not conducive to neighborly relations, economic cooperation, or climate considerations. Flights from Vienna to Pristina and vice versa could be significantly shorter and less polluting if Serbia permitted commercial aircraft bound for Pristina to fly through its airspace,” Kurti said, according to the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
He also highlighted the possibility of allowing citizens from Bosnia and Herzegovina to enter Kosovo using only their ID cards, urging that the same policy apply to Kosovars.
“Last month, at the 10th anniversary of the Berlin Process in Berlin, I announced that Kosovo will allow freedom of movement for all those holding Bosnian and Herzegovinian IDs. This will end the long waiting and costly visa requirements for free travel. Naturally, I hope that, in the remaining time, Bosnia and Herzegovina will ratify the Berlin Process Agreement so that citizens of both our countries can move freely with just their IDs. But even if they don’t, from January 1, 2025, all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be able to freely enter Kosovo using their ID cards. Freedom of movement is one of the four fundamental freedoms that has facilitated people’s movement across Europe, and it should also apply between our two countries,” Kurti declared.
Kurti added that removing trade barriers is essential, but it must be based on cooperation, trust, and good intentions.
“Through the Regional Common Market, we are progressing toward a point where we will not only have access to a broader market but also integrate our economy with that of our neighbors. This will help businesses in Kosovo gain exposure, grow, and become more competitive. By eliminating tariffs, harmonizing standards, and promoting the free movement of goods and services, we become much stronger economically, create new jobs, and support our local industry,” he emphasized.
The Prime Minister further spoke about Kosovar society, describing it as young and innovative.
“With an average age of 34, we have a young and dynamic workforce that can drive innovation and entrepreneurship if given the right support. The youth in Kosovo all speak English, many also speak German, and quite a few speak the languages of our region: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, and some also speak Turkish,” Kurti added.
