Riho Terras, the European Parliament rapporteur for Kosovo, affirms that Kosovo is on a promising path, a position reflected in his latest report. Speaking to Klan Kosova, Terras emphasized that both the government and opposition in Kosovo show strong commitment to European integration, a desire shared widely by the Kosovar public.
However, Terras stressed the importance of a balanced analysis, noting several areas requiring improvement. Among the key challenges is media freedom. He highlighted Kosovo’s troubling fall by 24 places in the latest Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, underlining the urgent need to safeguard this essential pillar of the rule of law.
Regarding corruption, Terras acknowledged that the now-resigned Kosovar government has taken steps to combat corruption, but underscored that significant work remains.
On the pivotal issue of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Terras voiced concern that progress is not moving in the right direction. He reiterated that the dialogue is a fundamental prerequisite for Kosovo’s European integration.
“I understand Kosovo’s position, and I understand that Serbia is not fulfilling its responsibilities. Still, it is crucial that dialogue continues, as it is important for the overall process,” Terras said.
He further noted that Peter Sorensen, the newly appointed EU ambassador for the dialogue, brings substantial regional experience and a clear mandate to bring both parties back to the negotiation table.
Terras revealed that the European Parliament is considering initiating dialogue between MPs from both Kosovo and Serbia, with the Parliament potentially acting as a mediator. He stressed, however, that the High Representative Kallas and her team must prioritize advancing this critical process.
