Tirana, October 16, 2023
The full speech of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosova, Albin Kurti, at the first session of the Berlin Process Summit in Tirana, on “Integrating the Region into the Single Market and Improving Convergence with the EU” :
Dear Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama,
Dear Chancellor Scholz,
Dear President of European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen
Dear President of European Council, Charles Michel
Colleagues Prime Ministers and Presidents,
It is fitting that the Summit of the Berlin Process, established to increase cooperation and forge good neighborly relations among the states of Western Balkans – is being held in Tirana. I thank Prime Minister Rama and Chancellor Scholz for organizing this.
In a terrorist attack against Kosova on the 24th of September, one of our police officers was killed, yet the perpetrators still roam free in Serbia despite publicly admitting their involvement. This was a heinous act sponsored by Serbia, as irrefutable evidence shows. We’ve confiscated over 5 million euro of sophisticated armament and ammunition produced in Kragujevac and Cacak. Four times within the last two years, Serbia has brought its military at our border. Even twenty-five years after the genocidal campaign, and after so many rounds of dialogue, Kosova is still threatened with invasion by Serbia. This moment asks us to reflect and not to carry on business as usual. Such act should not go unpunished.
Dear friends,
Citizens in Western Balkans today must not live in fear of conflict tomorrow but work for a future together. We as their leaders have a responsibility to build that common future. And as leaders we must engage in that process in good faith. A bona fide commitment is required in order to ensure the long-term effectiveness of our agreements and respect to all of the parties invested in the process.
Last year, we signed three mobility agreements, a significant step toward tangible results. While I appreciate the progress, it could have been faster. Regrettably, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s omission of a key freedom of movement agreement means visa requirements between Kosova and Bosnia persist.
I welcome the new agreement on new professions for nurses, veterinary surgeons, midwives, and pharmacists, and I look forward to future agreements that broaden the range of professions included even further.
We embrace the EU Growth ‘Four Step Plan’ for Western Balkans by President of the European Commission. EU can both reform and enlarge. I also believe that the benefits of the EU Single Market must be linked to economic and democratic reforms. There must not be EU benefits nor EU funds without EU values.
We acknowledge the substantial living standards gap with the EU, which will require time to close. Collectively, we have to continue to work toward sustainable growth for our region. Kosova, a vibrant democracy, is prepared to meet new challenges and embrace a brighter future. In this regard, we are pleased to have a Convergence Observatory established.
Thank you very much.
Last modified: October 16, 2023