President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will visit Kosovo on October 15 as part of a regional tour.

The European Commission agenda states she will meet President Vjosa Osmani and acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The topics of discussion remain undisclosed.

Von der Leyen will start her Western Balkans tour on October 13 in Tirana. She will meet President Bajram Begaj and Prime Minister Edi Rama, and attend the opening ceremony of the EU–Western Balkans Investment Forum.

On the same day, she will visit Tivat, Montenegro, to meet President Jakov Millatović and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.

On October 14, she will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet the country’s Presidency members, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers Borjana Krishto, and visit the Srebrenica Memorial Center.

Before arriving in Kosovo, she will meet in Belgrade with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Minister Đuro Maćut.

After Kosovo, von der Leyen will conclude the tour in North Macedonia, meeting President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, and Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi.

Her last visit to Kosovo was October last year, when she discussed EU sanctions imposed on the country. Since then, the EU started lifting some sanctions imposed in 2023 due to tensions in northern Kosovo.

During that visit, von der Leyen praised Kosovo for its work on reform agendas under the EU Growth Plan.

Kosovo has not benefited from the plan yet, as important international agreements remain unapproved due to a lack of established institutions.

The €6 billion Growth Plan includes investments and reforms for the Western Balkans from 2024–2027. Two billion come as grants, and four billion as loans with favorable terms.

The plan aims to accelerate reforms and prepare Western Balkan countries for EU accession.

/a.c/