Prime Minister Kurti participated in the working lunch invited by the President of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, with leaders of the Western Balkans

September 19, 2024

: Albin Kurti, on the left, and Ursula von der Leyen

: Albin Kurti, on the left, and Ursula von der Leyen

: Ursula Von der Leyen

Prishtina, 19 September, 2024

At the invitation of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, traveled to Brussels today, where he participated in the working lunch together with the leaders of the Western Balkan countries.

Prime Minister Kurti first congratulated Mrs. von der Leyen for her re-election as President of the European Commission and expressed his readiness to continue the close cooperation in order to advance the bilateral relations between Kosovo and the European Union and the European integration of Kosovo.

He emphasized that the expansion of the European Union, especially after the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, is the best answer for all those who threaten the peace and unity of Europe. In this context, Prime Minister Kurti called for Kosovo’s application to the European Union to be addressed and for Kosovo to be given the questionnaire and the status of a candidate country for membership. At the same time, he demanded that the restrictive measures on Kosovo, which he called unjust and unfair, be removed.

Regarding the Growth Plan, Prime Minister Kurti said that Kosovo was one of the first countries to submit the Reform Agenda, thus showing its commitment to the Growth Plan.

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Berlin Process, he confirmed his support for this process, as he expressed his and the Government of the Republic of Kosovo’s commitment to new agreements, and at the same time emphasized the importance of the full implementation of the four agreements of mobility signed in 2022 in Berlin.

Other issues that were addressed by the prime minister during the lunch were the Transport and Facilitation Program, the digital single market, the Common European Payments Area (SEPA), the Common Regional Market and regional cooperation and security.