Brussels, December 3, 2024
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, was warmly welcomed today in Brussels by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
In this first meeting in their new capacities, Prime Minister Kurti congratulated Ms. Kallas on her new position, wishing her success in achieving her objectives and those of the new European Union Commission, and offering close cooperation, as well as the advancement and strengthening of relations between Kosovo and the European Union.
The Prime Minister stated that the Republic of Kosovo is fully aligned with the European Union’s foreign policy and committed to European reforms. He noted that by the end of 2023, Kosovo has implemented 72% of the European Reform Agenda (ERA II) and was the first country in the Western Balkans to submit the Reform Agenda to the European Union within the framework of the Growth Plan. On this occasion, the Prime Minister requested from the new High Representative of the European Union, Kallas, the removal of measures against Kosovo, and emphasized the importance of accepting Kosovo’s membership questionnaire for the European Union as this month marks two years since the submission of the application. For the Republic of Kosovo, integration into the EU and NATO has no alternative because we do not wish to have an alternative, said the Prime Minister.
During the discussion, the progress of Kosovo, regional cooperation, and security were addressed. The Prime Minister stated that Kosovo has made significant economic and democratic progress and is an active participant in regional cooperation and economic integration in the region according to EU rules and standards. Regarding security, he stated that the Republic of Kosovo has successfully managed the most severe challenges and the most serious threats since the declaration of independence, referring to the paramilitary attack and aggression by Serbia in Banjska in September 2023, where a sergeant of the Kosovo Police was killed, and the kinetic attack on November 29th on the “Ibër Lepenc” water channel in Zubin Potok, which endangered half of the population to be left without water and electricity. While investigations into the recent attack are ongoing, the Prime Minister emphasized that among the confiscations made in connection with the case, alongside weapons and ammunition, 74 military emblems have also been found, of which 20 belong to various Russian military units, in addition to the Serbian ones. ,
Regarding the dialogue mediated by the European Union, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance that whenever the dialogue is discussed as a process, it should be mentioned that there is a Basic Agreement which has an Implementation Annex, but it is continuously violated by Serbia. He stated that the Basic Agreement must be respected and implemented, and that the signature itself serves as a guarantee for this.
Prime Minister Kurti expressed his gratitude to the High Representative, Kallas, for the hospitality. During his stay in Brussels, he will also attend the dinner hosted for the leaders of the Western Balkans by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa. There will be a bilateral meeting with him beforehand.
Last modified: December 9, 2024