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EU: We look forward to the formation of the new Kosovo Government and the continuation of our engagement with the authorities
2025-02-12 10:54:29 / KOSOVA
The European Union (EU) has said that it looks forward to the formation of the new Kosovo Assembly and Government, following the February 9 parliamentary elections, which it described as peaceful and competitive.
In a joint statement on February 11, EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas and EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said they would “continue our engagement with the authorities, with the aim of supporting Kosovo to move closer to the EU and to take full advantage of important opportunities such as the Western Balkans Growth Plan.”
After 99 percent of the votes were counted, Prime Minister Albin Kurti's Vetevendosje Movement received the most votes in the February 9 parliamentary elections, securing 47 of the 120 parliamentary seats – although, not enough to form a sole government.
According to preliminary results, the Democratic Party of Kosovo is expected to have 25 deputies, the Democratic League of Kosovo 20, and the coalition gathered around the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo 8 deputies.
These figures may change after counting conditional and diaspora votes.
About 40.59 percent of over 1.9 million eligible voters in Kosovo voted on February 9 in elections that the bloc's observation mission assessed as positive and peaceful, but with some flaws.
The EU expects the new Government of Kosovo to engage in responsible regional cooperation and to increase efforts to strengthen the rule of law and public administration, as well as to protect freedom of expression, the statement said.
Prime Minister Kurti's party has faced criticism for using negative language and boycotting the media during the election campaign. Criticism also came from the EU's own observation mission in Kosovo.
In early January, international and local non-governmental organizations called on the Vetëvendosje Movement to abandon its boycott of certain media outlets.
She had said that she was not boycotting the media, but was "excluding" three specific channels and that such a decision "did not harm Kosovo's rich and diverse media landscape."
The EU also reiterated that progress in normalizing relations with Serbia is the only way for Kosovo to move forward on its European path.
"Kosovo is expected to implement the obligations arising from the Agreement on the Path to Normalization, as well as from all previous dialogue agreements, without further delay and without preconditions. There is no other option than EU-facilitated dialogue," the statement further states.
Kosovo and Serbia reached an Agreement on the Normalization of Relations in early 2023, but neither has taken any steps towards its implementation so far.
According to the statement, the European Commission "remains ready to prepare an opinion" on Kosovo's application for EU membership, "as soon as the Council requests it."
Kosovo applied for membership in the European Union on December 15, 2022, but continues to remain the only country in the Balkans that does not yet have candidate country status.
The Council, namely the representatives of the 27 member states, decides when the application is sent to the European Commission, which is invited to prepare an opinion on the merits of the applicant country to obtain candidate country status and open membership negotiations./ REL
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