Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti today hosted the President of the European Council of the European Union, António Costa, who is on his first visit to Kosovo, at the government building.
Highlighting that nearly two and a half years have passed since the Republic of Kosovo applied for membership in the European Union, Prime Minister Kurti requested President Costa’s active role in forwarding the questionnaire and granting Kosovo the status of a candidate country.
He also strongly advocated for the full and immediate lifting of the EU’s restrictive measures against Kosovo.
Among other points, Kurti emphasized that according to international organizations such as Freedom House, Transparency International, and the World Justice Project, Kosovo has marked the greatest progress in the rule of law, the fight against corruption, order, and security. He also noted that Kosovo has the fastest-growing economy in the region according to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and was the first to submit the Reform Agenda of the EU Growth Plan on time.
Furthermore, he stressed that Kosovo has made progress in fulfilling reforms, as evidenced in the EU Progress Reports for Kosovo.
Regional security was also a key topic of discussion. Kurti stated that threats to the region emanate from Serbia, which he held responsible for the paramilitary and terrorist attack in Banjska in September 2023, and its continued ties with the Russian Federation. He also demanded that Radoičić be handed over to Kosovo’s justice institutions.
During the meeting, Kurti also raised concerns about the violation of the rights of Albanians in Preshevo, Medvegja, and Bujanovac in Serbia. “Albanians in the Preshevo Valley are underrepresented in public institutions, discriminated against in employment, and their rights are continuously disregarded,” he stated.
