Brussels, 8 December, 2022
The first Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue of the Republic of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, met in Brussels with Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
In the meeting was discussed the cultivation of the European integration process in the Western Balkan region, in which case Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi mentioned the application for membership in the European Union, which will happen before the end of this year. This application comes as a positive result of the dedication and commitment of the Republic of Kosovo in accordance with the values and European standards, as well as strong citizen support towards the European Union and integration processes.
Kosovo is making progress on its journey towards the European Union, which is being crowned with the next formal step, which is the application for membership. The quality and advancement of our institutions is higher than that of other countries of the Western Balkan region, at the moment when they applied for EU membership.
The European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council have continuously supported the journey and process of European integration of Kosovo. The application for membership comes in the spirit of the European orientation of the Republic of Kosovo.
Advisor to President Von der Leyen, Fernando Guimaraes, said that the progress made by Kosovo this year is visible, reaffirmed by the Country Report 2022. Also, he added that President Von der Leyen is fully committed to the journey of the West Balkan region towards the European Union.
Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi said that Kosovo’s progress in the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organized crime, social policies, economic development and democratization are incentives and imperatives for the success and serious approach of the Government in aligning with the standards and values of the European Union.
Last modified: December 9, 2022