The caretaker government of Kosovo is awaiting the European Union to begin gradually lifting sanctions by resuming the operation and meetings of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) subcommittees with Kosovo, as well as restarting technical assistance projects under the Western Balkans Investment Framework—covering key areas like energy, infrastructure, and more.
This has been confirmed by the EU itself to KosovaPress, though EU officials emphasized that further steps in fully lifting the sanctions will depend on sustainable de-escalation in northern Kosovo.
The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, during her visit to Kosovo on May 21, announced that punitive measures against Kosovo are being gradually lifted.
This is welcomed by Klisman Kadiu, advisor to Acting Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, who told KosovaPress which sanctions will be lifted first. He stressed, however, that the sanctions should be fully removed as soon as possible, as they were “unjustly imposed.”
The EU imposed these sanctions on Kosovo in 2023, following heightened tensions in the north.
“The measures were unfairly imposed in late June two years ago. It’s been nearly a year since former High Representative Josep Borrell recommended their removal. While it’s positive news that the EU has begun lifting them, the process is overdue. As stated by Kaja Kallas, this will be a gradual removal. We expect immediate resumption of SAA subcommittee meetings and reactivation of technical assistance projects under the Investment Framework,” Kadiu said in a written response to KosovaPress.
Meanwhile, EU spokesperson Anitta Hipper confirmed that the European Commission has already taken initial steps toward removing some measures. She clarified that further steps depend on tangible progress on the ground, aligned with EU expectations concerning the north.
“In December 2024, the Council stated the EU would begin lifting sanctions in parallel with Kosovo’s steps to de-escalate the situation in the north. The Commission has already initiated the removal of some sanctions. Future steps depend on continued and sustainable de-escalation,” she added.
On the other hand, European integration expert and former diplomat Alma Lama told KosovaPress that a majority of EU member states support removing the sanctions, but Kosovo must lobby vigorously for their full removal. She warned that the current political crisis in the country might pose an obstacle.
“There’s willingness among most EU countries to lift the sanctions. However, the EU is now watching Kosovo’s Assembly—why is there a political deadlock? Why these serious violations of democratic norms? Because of this, major political moves are unlikely,” Lama said.
A few weeks ago, the European Parliament adopted a report on Kosovo which, among other points, calls for the immediate removal of sanctions.
In June 2023, former High Representative Josep Borrell recommended lifting the sanctions, but some EU member states remained skeptical about fully doing so.
By the end of June this year, two years will have passed since the sanctions were imposed, and it’s estimated that Kosovo has suffered around €300 million in damages due to blocked development projects.
