Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has called for Kosovo to be granted EU candidate status and for accession negotiations to be opened, KosovaPress reports.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Berlin Process Summit in Montenegro, Kurti said Kosovo had demonstrated democratic functionality, institutional stability and economic growth, adding that the time had come for the country to advance in the European integration process.
“Kosovo is an electoral, liberal and egalitarian democracy. We have democratic functionality, institutional stability, economic growth and undivided attention. Now is the time for our country to obtain candidate status and open accession negotiations with the EU. Therefore, today and every day, I will call on EU leaders to request an opinion from the European Commission on this matter,” he said.
Kurti also called for the commitments made at the 2018 London Summit to be renewed, particularly those concerning justice for war crimes and the clarification of the fate of persons who went missing as a result of enforced disappearance.
The head of government also referred to the discovery of 23 bodies in Zubin Potok, which he said belonged to Albanians killed by Serbian forces in April 1999.
“At the same time, I hope we can renew the commitments made at the 2018 London Summit, which concern justice for war crimes and the discovery of missing persons. In my country, there are more than 500 missing persons, and recently, in Zubin Potok, we excavated the remains of 23 Albanians killed by Serbian forces in April 1999. We are optimistic about the time ahead because we cooperate and keep ourselves busy. Busy upholding EU values, keeping the Kremlin out, and, at the same time, focusing on youth employment and the rule of law,” Kurti added.
Kurti’s call comes as Kosovo still does not have EU candidate status, despite having submitted its application for membership in December 2022.
Launched in 2014, the Berlin Process aims to strengthen regional cooperation and advance the European integration of Western Balkan countries. For Kosovo, the summit also provides an opportunity to reiterate its call for concrete steps toward EU membership.
