The Ambassador of Sweden to Kosovo, Jonas Westerlund, has called for the rapid formation of Kosovo’s institutions, stressing that many important tasks have remained unaddressed due to their absence.
In an interview with Ekonomia Online, Westerlund said that Kosovo needs a stable government as soon as possible, whether formed independently or through a coalition.
“If we talk about the parliamentary situation, one could argue that momentum was lost some time ago. But let us focus on 2026. Elections have been held, a new government will soon be formed, and there are many issues that need to be addressed—particularly jobs, pensions, and social welfare. For these reasons, I believe that 2026 will be a good year,” Westerlund stated.
While emphasizing the importance of approving the state budget and World Bank loans, the Swedish ambassador underlined that progress must also be made in the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue.
“Naturally, I have no opinion on which government or political party should win. It is always good to have a stable government, whether a coalition or a single-party government. The budget must be approved, several World Bank loans must be ratified, and progress must be made in the dialogue on normalizing relations with Serbia,” he said.
Westerlund further stressed that agreements already reached must be fully implemented, including the Brussels Agreement and the Ohrid Annex.
“I believe Kosovo’s future is very bright, both in terms of employment and business development, as well as regarding the normalization dialogue. The dialogue has been ongoing since 2011. There are over 90 agreements, including the February 2023 Brussels Agreement and the Ohrid Annex. These agreements must be implemented,” he told Ekonomia Online.
