On the 2023 and 2024 Commission Reports on Kosovo
AFET-PR-767973
Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Riho Terras
Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.
This draft report assesses Kosovo's progress in 2023 and 2024, covering EU accession, rule of law, human rights, regional relations, and socio-economic reforms. It commends progress but notes challenges, and calls for continued reforms and dialogue.¶¶¶ Parliament supports Kosovo's EU membership application, urges non-recognising member states to recognise it, and calls for lifting EU measures against Kosovo.¶¶ It stresses the need for judicial independence, anti-corruption results, media freedom, and protection of journalists, and urges both Kosovo and Serbia to implement agreements and normalise relations.¶¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur proposes a resolution that commends Kosovo's progress, supports its EU path, and calls for reforms and dialogue, while expressing concerns on rule of law and regional tensions.¶¶¶
Key points
- Commends Kosovo's commitment to EU accession and supports its membership application, calling on non-recognising member states to recognise Kosovo's independence without delay.¶¶
- Welcomes visa liberalisation in place since 1 January 2024 as a tangible result of closer EU-Kosovo relations.¶
- Notes progress in justice, freedom, security, and market economy, but regrets limited progress in rule of law.¶
- Calls for immediate lifting of EU measures against Kosovo, which are no longer justified.¶
- Welcomes progress on electoral reforms and the deployment of an EU Election Observation Mission for the 9 February 2025 parliamentary elections.¶
- Expresses concern about corruption ranking and systemic vulnerabilities in the judiciary, including independence and separation of powers.¶¶
- Condemns security incidents in the north, including the Banjska attack and the November 2024 Ibër Lepenc sabotage, and calls for investigations.¶¶
- Calls for greater transparency on media ownership and expresses concern about attacks against journalists and SLAPP cases.¶¶
- Supports the EU-facilitated dialogue and calls for full implementation of all agreements, including the Association/Community of Serb-Majority Municipalities.¶¶
- Calls for apprehending perpetrators of the Banjska attack and for accountability for the Zubin Potok attack.¶
- Urges Kosovo to improve healthcare access, digital transformation, energy security, and environmental compliance.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Kosovo's government and institutions: must implement reforms in rule of law, anti-corruption, media freedom, and public services.¶¶¶
- EU member states that have not recognised Kosovo: called on to do so without delay.¶
- Kosovo and Serbia: must implement all agreements and avoid unilateral actions.¶
- Journalists in Kosovo: affected by increased attacks and SLAPP cases.¶