2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Kosovo

The European Parliament adopted by 343 votes to 145, with 78 abstentions, a resolution on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Kosovo.

Commitment to EU accession

Parliament welcomed Kosovo's commitment to EU membership, which reflects a clear strategic geopolitical choice, and the consistent and resolute support of its citizens for Kosovo's European path. It reaffirmed that Kosovo has demonstrated consistency in its efforts to integrate into the European Union and supports Kosovo's application for EU membership. Parliament reiterated its call to the Member States within the Council to instruct the Commission to present its questionnaire and submit an opinion on the merits of the country's application for membership.

Members welcomed the visa liberalisation adopted in April 2023 and in force since 1 January 2024 and noted the tangible progress made in the areas of justice, freedom and security, the fight against organised crime and the development of a functioning market economy. They called for an acceleration of reforms in the area of the rule of law. They also welcomed Kosovo's ongoing alignment with the EU's foreign and security policy.

Democracy and rule of law

Parliament welcomed the significant progress made towards addressing many long-standing recommendations of the EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) and presenting a consensus law on parliamentary elections. The elections of 9 February 2025 were held peacefully, freely and fairly, with the participation of all communities in Kosovo. However, Members regretted the harsh rhetoric of political parties during the campaign, the technical problems encountered during the counting and the lack of genuine political pluralism within the Kosovo Serb community during the parliamentary elections.

Members also welcomed the adoption of the law on the Special Prosecutor's Office and the progress made in prosecuting corruption cases, noting that Kosovo has improved its position in the Corruption Perceptions Index. They recalled that strong political commitment is needed to establish a solid track record in combating high-level corruption.

Parliament expressed concern about the systemic vulnerabilities of the Kosovo judicial system, particularly with regard to the independence of the judiciary and respect for the separation of powers. It called on the Kosovo government to allocate an adequate budget to the judicial system.

Human rights

Members noted that Kosovo has the necessary institutional framework for the promotion and protection of human rights, but that human rights protection remains insufficient.

While recognising that Kosovo's constitution is very progressive in protecting minority rights , Parliament called on Kosovo to ensure that all minorities recognised by the Law on the Protection of Minority Rights and all members of their communities are fully integrated into the country's constitution. It called on the Kosovo authorities to redouble their efforts to protect the rights of all minorities, particularly vulnerable national communities, and to ensure them equal opportunities and adequate representation in political and cultural life.

The resolution noted that the prison system largely complies with the UN Standard Minimum Rules and called for better protection of the rights of prisoners, particularly women, persons belonging to minorities and prisoners with mental health conditions.

Noting Kosovo's pluralistic media environment, Members reaffirmed that media pluralism and transparency are prerequisites for EU membership. They called for greater transparency in media ownership and funding.

In light of the recent cyberattack targeting Kosovo's digital infrastructure, Members called on the Kosovo government to strengthen its capacity to combat foreign interference and disinformation, particularly from Serbian nationalist media and Russia, which aims to destabilise the region and undermine the European integration of the Western Balkans.

Reconciliation and good neighbourly relations

Parliament welcomed Kosovo's commitment to a number of regional cooperation initiatives and encouraged it to intensify its reconciliation efforts and seek solutions to past disputes. It reiterated the importance of constructive engagement by both the Kosovo and Serbian authorities in order to achieve a comprehensive and legally binding normalisation agreement based on mutual recognition, in accordance with international law.

Members condemned all actions that undermine stability and jeopardise the reconciliation process, including tensions in northern Kosovo and provocations by Serbian state-backed groups and illegal armed groups, and urged the European Union to take a stronger stance against external interference in Kosovo's internal affairs.

Economy

Parliament welcomed Kosovo's progress in establishing a functioning market economy and encouraged it to implement the necessary structural reforms to address budgetary challenges, while ensuring adequate protection for workers, fair wages and improved working conditions.

Lastly, Members noted that Kosovo has made some progress in ensuring security of energy supply, but that the country remains heavily reliant on outdated and highly polluting power plants, which pose serious risks to health and the environment. They called on Kosovo to strengthen compliance with emission ceilings, improve the integration of environmental considerations into sectoral policies, and adopt the necessary measures to prevent pollution.