TIRANA, November 3 – Kosova’s progress on the European Union agenda slowed because of internal divisions and political gridlock after the February 9 parliamentary elections. The country remains committed to the European path and enjoys high public support for EU integration.

The draft Progress Report for 2024 says internal disputes have limited reforms. It states that Kosova has voluntarily aligned its foreign policy with that of the European Union. The document calls this alignment a clear sign of commitment to European values.

Kosova, unlike other Western Balkan countries, does not hold candidate status, although it applied for EU membership in December 2022. The European Commission has already taken initial steps to gradually lift the restrictive measures imposed in 2023. The EU introduced those measures after judging that Kosovar authorities did not prevent the unrest in the Serb-majority north.

The report notes that further steps depend on continued de-escalation in the north. It adds that the EU will lift financial measures once regular local governance is restored after the recent elections. The October 12 local elections in North Mitrovica, Zveçan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok gave victory to the Serb List. The party has close ties with official Belgrade.

These municipalities were led by Albanians since 2022, when Serb mayors and officials withdrew from Kosova’s institutions to protest government decisions.

A study by the GAP Institute in Prishtina, published in May, estimates that EU sanctions cost Kosova about 613 million Euros. The report says 7.1 million euros were lost entirely. It lists the most affected sectors as environment, energy, digitalization, and culture.

The draft report also discusses the EU-mediated dialogue between Kosova and Serbia. It urges both sides to implement all obligations under the 2023 Agreement on Normalization and its implementation annex. It calls on Kosova to find long-term solutions ensuring that every community can access basic public services, as required by the dialogue that began in 2011.

The last high-level meeting took place in September 2023. Technical meetings followed, but none produced an agreement.

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