Prishtina, 7 October 2025
Honorable Deputy Prime Ministers,
Honorable Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
It is a pleasure to meet again in this regular government meeting, the 270th in a row.
While the formation of new institutions following the February 9 elections remains on hold, the country’s economy continues to grow, marking an increase of 4.58% in Gross Domestic Product during the second quarter of this year. Along with economic growth, budget revenues have also increased by 10% compared to the previous year.
As a government grounded in the interests of the citizens, we have already proven that we share economic growth with all citizens: because when growth is shared, it multiplies; when inequality in society is reduced, aggregate demand in the economy rises—thus ensuring sustained strong economic performance year after year.
As part of this fair sharing of economic growth, on the occasion of the start of the academic year, today we will approve a decision to allocate a one-time payment of 100 euros for all students who meet the criteria, so that they and their families can more easily cover the costs associated with beginning the new academic year.
But support for students does not end there. Dear students, today we will also approve the fulfillment of one of the key promises of the Kurti 3 Government — the Student Mobility Scholarship for Bachelor-level students. This scholarship will become a permanent measure providing continuous support for students in need. The amount of assistance will depend on the distance between the place of residence and the university attended — meaning, the farther away your university is, the greater the support you will receive.
On today’s agenda, we also have several other decisions awaiting our approval. Among them are infrastructure projects of national and local importance, such as:
the final decision on expropriation of public properties for investments in the sanitary landfill in the Municipality of Peja; the expropriation of immovable properties for the construction of the second new pedestrian bridge over the Ibër River, currently under construction; and the decision for expropriation of properties for the construction of the Vitia interchange on the “Arbër Xhaferi” Highway (Prishtina–Hani i Elezit).
We also have several social sector decisions, including: the allocation of 2.5 million euros for reimbursement to parents — namely, the subsidy for purchasing school textbooks and learning materials for this school year; the allocation of 1 million euros for the implementation of Measure 3.4 – Food Vouchers for Families in Need, under the Economic Revival Package; and the approval of the Program for the Protection of Vulnerable Electricity Consumers.
However, before we begin the meeting, allow me to address the recent statements made by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and the continued actions of state and non-state actors from Serbia, which can only be described as interference in the October municipal election process in the Republic of Kosovo.
Promises of employment, financial inducements, coercion and blackmail using social benefits, and statements by Serbian state officials claiming that “only the Serb List defends Serbia in Kosovo” — as recently declared by former Serbian Prime Minister and current presidential adviser Miloš Vučević, and as repeatedly stated by President Vučić himself — are recurring methods of Serbia’s interference in Kosovo’s electoral process.
The European Union Election Observation Mission, in its report on the February 9, 2025 parliamentary elections, documented Serbia’s interference in our elections. Such interference in the elections of another sovereign state constitutes a violation of democracy and sovereignty. Despite this, Serbia has faced no consequences from the European Union, which is why it continues its behavior unchanged.
This interference by Serbia in Kosovo’s elections is even more severe than Russia’s interference in Europe.
We therefore call on the European Union to condemn the official interference of Belgrade in Kosovo’s democratic elections and to sanction Serbia — a country aspiring for EU membership — for actions that contradict the principles of good neighborliness and violate the Brussels Basic Agreement.
Thank you.
