Costa urges Kosovo to fulfil EU commitments on Western Balkans tour

European Council President Antonio Costa continued his Western Balkans tour on Wednesday with a visit to Kosovo, another EU membership hopeful.

Costa arrived in the capital Pristina during an institutional and parliamentary crisis. Even after three months of elections, the new parliament chair had not been chosen, and the new government was nowhere in sight.

Costa met with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who is on a technical mandate while also serving as MP in the new parliament.

At a joint press conference with Osmani, Costa said that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is crucial for further EU integration of both countries.

“The enlargement to the Western Balkans is the most important geopolitical investment for the European Union. It’s my personal commitment too,” Costa said.

“I can’t stress enough how important enlargement can be to the European Union and, I believe, also for you.”

“Kosovo’s place is in the European Union family. But it also requires you to deliver on your commitments,” he emphasised.

Kosovo is the last in line among the Western Balkan six to join the 27-member bloc, as it remains the only one with the status of a potential candidate after submitting its EU membership candidacy in 2022.

A former Serbian province, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, which Belgrade does not recognise. An ongoing dialogue between the two, mediated by Brussels since 2013, has stalled in recent years.

While almost all Western countries recognise its independence, five EU countries still do not: Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain.