The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs has approved a draft report assessing Kosovo’s progress in the EU integration process during 2023 and 2024. In the report, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have called for the immediate removal of the European Union’s restrictive measures against Kosovo, emphasizing that these measures are no longer justified, as Kosovo has already met the EU’s conditions.
The author of the report, MEP Riho Terras, stressed the need for a new step forward in the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. He expressed appreciation for the fact that all major political parties in Kosovo remain strongly committed to the country’s European integration.
“Kosovo’s future lies within the European family, based on a reform-driven agenda, and we will work together to achieve this goal,” Terras said.
British MP Alicia Kearns welcomed the development, calling it a long-overdue yet necessary step to restore balance in the EU’s approach to the Western Balkans.
“A long-overdue but very welcome announcement. I hope these calls will be taken seriously by European institutions,” Kearns stated.
The EU’s restrictive measures were originally imposed in response to the crisis in northern Kosovo, particularly following severe tensions in Serb-majority municipalities in 2023. The measures were intended to push Kosovar authorities to take concrete steps to de-escalate the situation and enhance cooperation with the international community.
The EU had conditioned the removal of these measures on visible efforts by the Government of Kosovo to reduce tensions in the north, including organizing new local elections with Serb participation and cooperating with international missions such as EULEX and KFOR.
The approval of the report by the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee could signal a potential shift in the EU’s stance toward Kosovo, suggesting a more balanced assessment of the situation on the ground.
