Warsaw, 22 November, 2024
The second day of the official visit to Poland of the First Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue of the Republic of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, continued with the participation in the conference organized by the Trans-European Policy Studies Association study center, TEPSA, entitled “Who should be the real time-keeper in EU enlargement?”, within the framework of the conferences taking place on the eve of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
In his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed that Kosovo has made rapid progress, has demonstrated advancement in the country’s development, while the enlargement process should be based on meritocracy and the assessment of the implementation of the reform agenda and approximation with European Union standards.
He emphasized that Kosovo achieved the second fastest progress in the region, as evidenced by the latest Country Report, rapid progress in increasing employment and reducing unemployment, rapid progress in economic growth, rapid progress in increasing business income, as well as the introduction for the first time of social policies that particularly affect children, young mothers, families and young people.
“The story of Kosovo in 2024 is a model of what we are able to achieve and make significant progress,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Being the only country in the region that does not yet have the status of a candidate country for membership in the European Union, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of moving forward in this process for Kosovo by obtaining the questionnaire and the status of a candidate country.
The panel discussions also addressed Poland’s support for the EU enlargement process with the Western Balkans region and the upcoming priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of next year.
The panel also included the Head of the Department for EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tomasz Wiśniewski, the representative from the Institute for European Policy (EIP), Funda Tekin, and Professor of the University of Warsaw and the Central European Institute, Spasimir Domaradzki. The panel was moderated by Visegrad Insight editor Jan Farfal.
Last modified: November 25, 2024