The incumbent government is waiting for the European Union, within the framework of the gradual lifting of sanctions, to begin the functioning and holding of meetings of the subcommittees of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Kosovo, as well as with the technical assistance projects of the Western Balkans Investment Framework, which affect areas such as energy, infrastructure and others.
This is also confirmed by the European Union itself to KosovaPress, but they emphasize that further steps towards the complete lifting of the measures will depend, according to them, on a sustainable de-escalation in the north of the country, KosovaPress reports.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, during her stay in Kosovo on May 21, announced that punitive measures against Kosovo have gradually begun to be lifted.
The gradual lifting of the measures is good news for Klisman Kadiu, advisor to the acting Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, who tells KosovaPress what the first measures to be lifted will be. However, he adds that they should be lifted completely as soon as possible, as they have been imposed unfairly.
The EU imposed punitive measures against Kosovo in 2023, following rising tensions in the north of the country.
“The measures against Kosovo were unfairly imposed at the end of June two years ago. It has been almost a year since we also received a recommendation from the former High Representative, Josep Borrell, for their lifting. It is good news, albeit belated, that the European Union has begun lifting the punitive measures against Kosovo. As communicated by the High Representative, Kaja Kallas, they are being lifted gradually. For our part, we reiterate that the measures should be lifted as soon as possible and completely. As part of this process, the EU will soon begin the functioning and holding of meetings of the SAA subcommittees with Kosovo, as well as with the technical assistance projects of the Western Balkans Investment Framework, which include areas such as energy, infrastructure and others,” his written response to KosovaPress states.
Meanwhile, the European Union spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, tells KosovaPress that the European Commission has taken the first steps towards lifting some measures.
She states that further steps towards the full lifting of measures will depend on progress on the ground in line with EU expectations for the situation in the north.
“In December 2024, the Council stated that the EU will gradually lift the measures, in parallel with further steps by Kosovo to reduce tensions in the north. In this regard, the Commission has already taken the first steps towards lifting some of the measures. Future steps depend on progress on the ground and are conditional on a sustainable de-escalation in the north,” she emphasizes.
On the other hand, European integration expert and former diplomat Alma Lama tells KosovaPress that there is a willingness among most EU member states to lift punitive measures against Kosovo, but the country must lobby intensively for their complete removal. According to her, the current political crisis could be an obstacle to such a thing.
“There is a willingness from most EU member states to lift these measures. But the EU’s eyes are now on the Kosovo Assembly, to see how democracy works and why this political impasse exists. Why these major violations of the democratic spirit? As a result, no significant political action is expected,” she emphasizes.
A week ago, the European Parliament also approved the report on Kosovo, which, among other things, calls for the immediate lifting of punitive measures against it.
In June last year, former EU High Representative Josep Borrell recommended lifting the measures against Kosovo, but some EU member states remained skeptical about lifting them completely.
At the end of June, it will be two years since the imposition of punitive measures against Kosovo, and so far it has been reported that the country has suffered around 300 million euros in damages due to the blockage of various projects. /KP/