Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, visited Kosovo on October 26, 2024, to reinforce the EU’s commitment to the region and condemn Russia’s efforts to destabilize democracies. During her visit, she met with Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti, discussing the progress of Kosovo’s EU integration and the need for reforms.
Key Takeaways
- Von Der Leyen emphasizes the EU’s support for Kosovo’s EU membership aspirations.
- She condemns Russia’s influence in the Western Balkans, particularly through Serbia.
- Osmani calls for the removal of unfair EU measures against Kosovo.
- The visit is part of a broader tour of the Western Balkans to strengthen ties.
Strengthening EU-Kosovo Relations
Von der Leyen’s visit comes at a crucial time for Kosovo, which applied for EU membership in December 2022. The European Commission has been actively engaging with the Western Balkan countries to facilitate their integration into the EU. During her meeting with President Osmani, von der Leyen praised Kosovo’s achievements, particularly the introduction of a visa-free travel regime for its citizens.
"Your efforts have already led to a major success: the visa-free travel regime. Since January, the people of Kosovo can travel to the European Union without a visa," von der Leyen stated, highlighting the importance of collaboration in achieving such milestones.
Addressing Regional Security Concerns
A significant part of the discussions focused on regional security, particularly the influence of Russia in the Western Balkans. Von der Leyen condemned Russia’s attempts to destabilize democracies in the region, emphasizing the need for a united front against such actions.
Osmani echoed these sentiments, labeling Serbia as Russia’s strongest satellite in Europe. She urged the EU to take a firmer stance against Serbia’s actions, particularly in light of the alleged terrorist activities that aimed to destabilize Kosovo and the broader region.
Calls for Reform and Support
Both leaders discussed the importance of ongoing reforms in Kosovo to align with EU standards. Osmani highlighted the recent approval of Kosovo’s reform agenda, which focuses on key areas such as the economy, energy security, and attracting foreign investments. She expressed optimism about the potential benefits of these reforms, which could amount to over €880 million in EU funding by 2027.
"This is extremely positive news for our country. These steps confirm the EU’s commitment to offer the region more towards EU integration," Osmani remarked.
Conclusion
Von der Leyen’s visit to Kosovo underscores the EU’s commitment to supporting the region’s aspirations for integration and stability. As Kosovo continues to navigate its path towards EU membership, the collaboration between its leaders and the European Commission will be crucial in addressing both internal reforms and external threats. The discussions held during this visit are expected to pave the way for further cooperation and support in the coming years.
Sources
- EU’s Von Der Leyen Visits Kosovo, Condemns Russia’s Attempts to ‘Destabilize’ Democracies, Republic World.
- The President of the EC visits Kosovo today, meeting with Osmani and Kurti – Kosova, Politiko.al.
- Von Der Leyen Speaks at Press Conference With Osmani | Mirage News, Mirage News.
- Osmani: It is high time for the EU to remove the unfair measures against Kosovo – KOHA.net, KOHA.net.
- Osmani asks Von der Leyen to remove the measures against Kosovo and react to Serbia • KosovaPress, KosovaPress.
