Brussels, December 3, 2024
Following the meeting with the new High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who is also the Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, was received by the new President of the European Council, António Costa.
Prime Minister Kurti congratulated the former Prime Minister of Portugal on his new role and commitment as President of the European Council, also expressing readiness for close cooperation. He also expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and for the dinner organized for the leaders of the Western Balkans.
During the conversation held between them, a series of issues were addressed, primarily focusing on Kosovo’s journey towards European integration. Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that Kosovo has experienced economic growth and democratic progress, particularly in the last four years, as evidenced by international measurements and high rankings from organizations such as the World Justice Project, Freedom House, Transparency International, the V-Dem Institute, as well as the IMF and the World Bank.
The 2024 Country Report also established Kosovo as one of the top performers in the region.
Within the framework of the Growth Plan, Kosovo demonstrated its institutional preparedness, while in the implementation of the ERA II reform agenda, an implementation rate of 72% was achieved compared to 45% in previous administrations. Meanwhile, in the National Program for European Integration (NPEI), the implementation level in 2023 reached 66.12%.
Together with the alignment of standards with those of the European Union and the alignment with EU policies, Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that all factors are indicators of the country’s development and progress, as well as its readiness for significant steps on the path towards the EU, in a process based on meritocracy. Thus, he recalled the importance of providing the questionnaire and candidate status as soon as possible as a result, since Kosovo is the most developed democracy in the region.
Prime Minister Kurti also emphasized the need for the punitive measures against the Republic of Kosovo to be lifted as soon as possible.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister also spoke about the security situation and the recent attacks. He informed President Costa about the kinetic terrorist attack on Friday, November 29th, in the Ibër-Lepenc channel, and the purpose of this attack to damage electricity production and water supply, from which more than half of the population would be left without electricity and water.
He emphasized the importance of the arrest and extradition of the chief criminal and chief terrorist Millan Radoiçiq, for whom the Prosecutor’s Office already has a 160-page indictment for him and his group, and who continues to pose a threat to the security of the country and the region as long as he remains free in Serbia and has the support of President Aleksandar Vučić and the state apparatus there.
Last modified: December 9, 2024