Shaip Kamberi, the only ethnic Albanian MP in Serbia’s parliament, announced that he has received a letter from EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos addressing concerns about the treatment of Albanians in the Preshevo Valley.
In the letter, Kos assured Kamberi that the European Commission is closely monitoring the treatment of national minorities in Serbia as part of its EU accession talks. She emphasized that Chapter 23 — covering Judiciary and Fundamental Rights — is crucial for Serbia’s EU path.
Kos specifically highlighted the controversial practice of “address passivation”, which affects many Albanians in southern Serbia. The Commissioner reiterated that Serbia must explain how it verifies residency status and ensure this process aligns with European standards.
The issue of “address passivation” has long been criticized by Albanian representatives as a tactic to disenfranchise ethnic Albanians by removing them from voter lists.
