Prishtina, 16 July, 2026
The Acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, received today the Non-Resident Ambassador of Ireland, Ragnar Almqvist, shortly after Ireland assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Prime Minister Kurti thanked the ambassador for the visit and praised the good bilateral relations, as well as Ireland’s contribution to EULEX and KFOR. Since August 1999, over three thousand members of the Irish Defence Forces have served in KFOR.
Congratulating Ireland on assuming the Presidency, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of the Irish Presidency pushing forward the status of a candidate country and the opening of negotiations.
The meeting also discussed cultural cooperation. DokuFest opens its twenty-fifth jubilee edition in Prizren on August 7, with a program focusing on Ireland. The Prime Minister thanked the Irish Embassy for its support for the festival.
Kosovo is the most advanced democracy in the region, with the highest average economic growth, the highest citizen support for the European Union and fully aligned with the EU’s foreign and security policy. Candidate status and the opening of accession negotiations are recognition of the reforms and progress that Kosovo has demonstrated.
