Pristina, 13 December, 2022
Dear Government Cabinet,
Dear citizens,
A year ago, at the annual meeting of the Stabilization and Association Agreement Council in Brussels, we announced that this year we will apply for membership in the European Union.
Today, at the 112th meeting of the Government, we are announcing that we will submit the application for membership in the European Union this week.
As you know, we are the last country in the Western Balkans to apply for the European Union, even though we are the first country in this region for the level of rule of law, freedom and democracy.
The time has come to officially turn the potential candidate status, which was known to us a long time ago, into a candidate status, moving to a new phase of relations with the European Union. And this is in accordance with the aspirations of our citizens, who deeply believe that our future lies within the European Union alongside democratic states, with which we share the common values of freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law.
A week ago, at the Tirana Summit between the European Union and the Western Balkans, in the joint statement, the European Union called for an accelerated membership process.
Therefore, our application to the European Union is, on the one hand, a response to the promise that the European Union gave to the region for membership from the Thessaloniki Summit in 2003, but also a direct response to the call a week ago at the Tirana Summit.
Compared to the states of the region at the time they applied, Kosovo is better prepared; with advanced legislation harmonized with the European Union; with stable institutions and full capacities to respond to the European Union questionnaire; and with the best indicators of the rule of law in the region.
The European Union is a country of peace, security, equality and prosperity, therefore the Republic of Kosovo has a natural place in this common house as a peace-loving and democratic country.
Thank you.
Last modified: December 13, 2022