Alfons Benjamin-Lentze from the European Union Office in Kosovo said that the EU has a particular interest in the Western Balkans also advancing economically, as reforms and the Growth Plan meaning the injection of funds into the region come with a cost, because these resources must be properly absorbed and effectively used.
“Whether it is energy, education, the rule of law, healthcare, or all those areas that improve the lives of citizens,” he said.
According to him, there must be an understanding that “this is the money, and you have to work.” He added that this reflects mutual obligations to work for the benefit of citizens.
Benjamin-Lentze further stated that the European integration process is more than just drafting laws and strategies on paper, emphasizing that what matters is concrete implementation and monitoring, in order to measure real progress.
“It is about accountability, integrity, and taking responsibility as managers, leaders, politicians, and representatives of different institutions,” he added.
He also spoke about the high level of youth unemployment, warning that many young people may leave the country.
“Of course, they will leave because they have no reason to stay if they cannot find proper jobs or see a future, especially when salaries are 300–400 euros. How can they manage? They see no solution,” he noted.
He added that there should be more frequent discussions and that political leadership must engage more directly with the public.
Among other things, he emphasized that there are examples of countries that have joined the EU but later experienced regression.
Finally, Benjamin-Lentze stated that the IKD report is a reflection of the situation, but that this is an ongoing process that will continue.
The Kosovo Institute for Justice (IKD), in partnership with the Centre for the Study of Democracy and Governance (CSDG) and the Centre for Investigative Journalism (SCOOP), supported by the Western Balkans Fund (WBF), organized a regional roundtable on Thursday, where the summary “Regional Overview: Where the Region Stands in EU Cluster 1 – Fundamental Principles” was published.
