The Chief Negotiator of the Republic of Kosovo for the European Union, Mr. Jeton Zulfaj, met today in Brussels with the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Ms. Marta Kos, to discuss advancing Kosovo’s EU accession process.
Zulfaj presented Kosovo’s progress in strengthening the rule of law, consolidating democratic institutions, and implementing reforms as part of the EU accession process. He underlined Kosovo’s commitment to the fundamental values of the EU and full alignment with the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The meeting also addressed progress regarding the Growth Plan, integration into the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), and the “Roam Like at Home” initiative—areas that Zulfaj emphasized are being treated as a priority by the government.
During the meeting, the Chief Negotiator focused the discussion on Kosovo’s application for EU membership, which was submitted on December 15, 2022. Zulfaj thanked Commissioner Kos for her commitment to the enlargement process and highlighted the importance of the European Commission’s proactive support regarding the issuance of the questionnaire, the granting of candidate status, and the opening of accession negotiations. He emphasized that Kosovo recognizes the challenges of the enlargement process and that these will be addressed along the path toward EU membership.
The citizens of Kosovo are grateful for the EU’s support and investments, and they have channeled this support into building a state with a functional democracy, equal rights, and security for all. It is important for the EU to recognize and value the commitment of the government and the citizens to reforms—a commitment also reflected in the broad public support for EU membership—Zulfaj noted.
The meeting also addressed current developments, including the law on the Specialized Chambers, which was adopted by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. Chief Negotiator Zulfaj explained the context of the adoption of the law, emphasizing that the September 16 verdict was unfair and that it awaits correction at the appeal level, for which the government has already formed a working group for a state strategy. He emphasized that Kosovo is a functional democracy with separation of powers, committed to the rule of law. In the end, Chief Negotiator Zulfaj thanked Commissioner Kos for the meeting and expressed his commitment to continuing reforms and close cooperation with EU institutions in the accession process.
