Kosovo with sanctions, Osmani: We are the no.1 reforming country in Europe, we are being treated unfairly, we would be closer to the EU

Kosovo with sanctions, Osmani: We are the no. 1 reforming country in Europe, we are being treated unfairly, we would be closer to the EU

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said that the process of membership of Western Balkan countries in the European Union “is not based on merit.”

After the Brdo-Brion process summit in Durres, she told Albanian public television that the EU is not lifting sanctions on Kosovo “despite all the reforms.” Osmani said that “none of the member states is willing to give a reason why they are still in force.”

While Albania has made great progress towards the EU, Kosovo is the only country in the region that does not yet have the status of a candidate country for membership.

Osmani said that Kosovo’s application to receive candidate country status, submitted in 20222, has not been reviewed at all.

“So far, due to some member states, the European Commission has not even been mandated to deal with the issue of candidate status for Kosovo,” she said.

Thus, according to her, Kosovo is being treated unfairly. Osmani even said that the country would now be “very close to membership” if the process “were based on merit.”

“This brings us to the conclusion that the process is not based on merit, but there are political developments, own considerations that member states sometimes take into account to push forward or to support a state or not. Because if it were based on merit, Kosovo – as the number 1 reformer not only in this region, but according to Gallup International, in the rule of law we are number 1 in Europe and number 3 in the world – would move forward a lot and now we would be very close to membership, but unfortunately political developments in some member states are blocking this,” she said.

Osmani said that at the summit he sought the support of Slovenia and Croatia, as two partner countries that are members of the EU. He said he asked them to be “even more active” and “our voice in the EU institutions and to open the way for Kosovo as well.”

Regarding Albania’s progress, she said she is very happy.