The president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, announced Tuesday from Albania, where the meeting between leaders of the European Union and the Balkans is being held, that Pristina will formalize before the end of the year its application to join the bloc.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s EU-Balkans summit in Tirana, the Kosovar leader reaffirmed Pristina’s intention to apply to join the EU club before 2023. «I will announce in front of the EU leaders that Kosovo will send its application for EU membership before the end of the year and we expect the full support of the member states,» she assured.
Osmani has insisted that the territory, which declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, has a firm commitment to the EU and its values, making clear its full alignment with the bloc’s foreign policy, in a veiled attack on Belgrade, which has not joined the European sanctions against Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
The fact that Kosovo’s independence is not recognized by five member states, including Spain, has complicated the debate on its European integration during these years. Although steps are being taken, such as the visa exemption for Kosovar citizens recently agreed by the EU-27 and pending a final agreement, Kosovo’s community expectations are linked to the progress in the dialogue with Serbia facilitated by the EU, which seeks a binding agreement accepted by both parties to normalize their relations.
