Kosovo’s President, Vjosa Osmani, has criticized the European Union for being “unjust” towards Kosovo in its policies in the Western Balkans, particularly for failing to lift punitive measures against the country and for showing no willingness to consider Kosovo’s request for EU membership.
Speaking upon her arrival in Brussels for the EU-Western Balkans summit, Osmani stated on Wednesday that “it seems there is a tendency within the EU from some member states to constantly condemn Kosovo.”
Osmani also addressed the issue of the EU’s punitive measures against Kosovo, stating that not only are these measures “unjust,” but also “non-European,” because, as she put it, “they are punishing a population of 1.7 million people, who are the most pro-European on the planet, with over 97% of its citizens supporting the integration process into the EU.”
The European bloc imposed punitive measures on Kosovo in 2023, following heightened tensions in the northern part of the country. The EU had assessed that the Kosovo government had not done enough to de-escalate the situation.