Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, during his visit to Ireland, met with members of the Committee on European Union Affairs of the Parliament of Ireland.
The meeting was attended by the Committee’s Chair, Barry Ward, member Rúairí Ó Murchú, Secretary Ivan Farmer, and Frank Smyth, Director for Enlargement and the South-East Europe Unit at Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs.
In a statement following the meeting, Kurti emphasised the importance of accelerating Kosovo’s European integration process. He called on the Council of the European Union to request an opinion from the European Commission on Kosovo’s application for EU membership, submitted in December 2022.
According to Kurti, obtaining candidate country status and opening accession negotiations are essential steps to ensure that Kosovo’s formal path towards EU membership is not delayed any further.
“For us, the process is no less important than reaching the destination, because by implementing reforms, we not only advance on our European path but also benefit our citizens and strengthen our state,” Kurti wrote.
The head of government also expressed gratitude for Ireland’s continued support for Kosovo, highlighting the country’s contribution to hosting refugees and its participation in the NATO-led KFOR mission.
