Pristina, October 12, 2022
Assessing it as better than last year and as one of the best reports in the region, the Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, at the same time the EU Special Representative, Ambassador Tomáš Szunyog, handed over to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, The European Commission’s Report on Kosovo, previously known as the Progress Report.
Prime Minister Kurti appreciated the fact that the report emphasizes that there are more and more areas where we are better than last year and that the commitment of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo is appreciated in it.
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo has strengthened the capacities in the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the requirements derived from the Association Stabilization Agreement and ERA II. This has resulted in a well-coordinated work and with this Country Report also, which clearly shows our commitment to the EU agenda and shows the progress made in many areas, said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the Government’s priorities are employment and justice, which are also listed as key priorities within the European Reform Agenda II. In addition, it singled out the implementation of many long-overdue reforms that have been repeatedly recommended by the EU since 2012, such as the Rules of the Assembly, the Law on Political Party Finances, the Ad Hoc Commission for Electoral Reform, Law on food etc.
It’s good to see that there are no regressive graded fields like in past years. In many areas we have moved a step higher on the ladder of progress, such as the fight against corruption, public administration reform, economic and monetary policies, the functioning of the market economy, education and culture, social policy and employment, transport policy, trans-European networks, food, safety, veterinary and phytosanitary issues.
Kosovo is a beacon of democracy in the region, emphasized the Prime Minister, adding that last year, despite the pandemic and energy crisis, Kosovo managed to have one of the highest economic growth, active fight against corruption and organized crime, which raised its position in objective world reports.
The Prime Minister emphasized that Kosovo has fulfilled the 95 criteria of the Visa Liberalization Guide, therefore it is the EU’s turn to act, to enable the free movement of the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo.
Due to the extraordinary commitment to our European path, we believe that the time has come for Kosovo and the European Union to accelerate joint efforts to address the issues that stand in the way of the EU integration process, said Prime Minister Kurti. We have declared our objective to apply for membership in the European Union as a first step with the aim of obtaining candidate status, he emphasized.
Last modified: October 13, 2022