The European Commission’s Director-General for Enlargement, Gert Jan Koopman, has addressed the recent appeals made by Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti regarding the country’s EU candidate status.
Speaking today, Koopman stated that the European Commission would be “ready to prepare an opinion” on Kosovo’s application for candidate status — but emphasized that the Council of the European Union has not yet requested such a step.
He urged Kosovo’s leadership to reflect internally on why the Council has not moved forward with the process.
“My advice for the country is to focus in this direction, because if there is no full engagement, it is difficult to move forward. We in the Commission are already in the process of lifting the measures after very tough discussions in the EU Council last year. We would, of course, be ready to prepare an opinion on Kosovo’s membership application — but for that, the Council must invite us. I think there should also be reflection in Kosovo as to why the Council isn’t doing that,” Koopman said, as quoted by RTK and reported by Gazeta Express.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti has repeatedly pressed EU officials to grant Kosovo candidate status. During his May 23, 2025, meeting with High Representative Kaja Kallas, Kurti insisted that:
“Kosovo deserves candidate status as the most advanced democracy in the Western Balkans,” according to a statement from his office.
Similarly, President Vjosa Osmani reiterated this demand earlier this month in her meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, saying that Kosovo has fulfilled all conditions and that it’s time to break the current blockade within the EU.
“Kosovo’s successful reforms and continuous progress in international democracy and rule of law indices are clear evidence of our country’s commitment to European integration,” Osmani stated, adding that candidate status would acknowledge these achievements.
Both Kurti and Osmani have consistently emphasized that Kosovo’s democratic progress and alignment with EU values justify advancing its path toward full EU membership.
