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EU begins lifting some punitive measures against Kosovo: Funds released for four projects
2025-12-17 10:30:52 / KOSOVA
The European Union has begun lifting some punitive measures against Kosovo, imposed in 2023, freeing up funds for some projects, but many remain blocked. The news was announced by the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Acting Government of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, following an official letter he received from the Director-General for Enlargement of the European Union, Gert Jan Koopman. According to the letter published by Bislimi, financial resources have been released for four projects as a result of what has been assessed as “the proper transfer of local government in the north”, following the local elections of October 12.
These are projects related to IPA programs, worth 34.6 million euros. "Based on these and in line with the Commission's communication on Enlargement 2025, I am pleased to inform you that the Commission will further lift some of the EU measures, specifically those related to the EU funds program and the contracting of priority projects," Koopman's letter states.
Kosovo calls for full lifting of punitive measures
Kosovo welcomes the next step by the EU and the full lifting of the measures, said Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi. "We have consistently insisted on the lifting of the measures. There is no longer any reason for some of them to remain in force, especially after the transfer of power to the four municipalities in the north in a legal and peaceful manner," Bislimi stressed.
But the European Union, as the media in Pristina write, will not lift all punitive measures against Kosovo this year. The European Commission has asked Kosovo to submit projects for the use of IPA funds, i.e. pre-accession funds for the period 2026–2027, which must in any case be approved by the European Commission and supported by the member states. Ministers of the European Union member states discussed the enlargement process in Brussels on Tuesday, adopting conclusions for this process. The General Affairs Council of the European Union, in its section on Kosovo, calls for the country to accelerate the step on the path towards reforms. Among other demands is the implementation of the agreements reached with Serbia, within the framework of the process of normalizing relations, including the need to form the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities. Meanwhile, Serbia is being asked to start recognizing Kosovo's documents and symbols and to stop opposing membership in international organizations.
Kosovo still behind in the EU integration process
Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans region that does not enjoy the status of a candidate country for membership, although it applied for this in December 2022. To demand more from Brussels for Kosovo, the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has traveled to the European capital, where she will participate in the EU-Western Balkans Summit alongside leaders of EU member states, as well as those from the Western Balkans. According to a statement from the Office of the President, “the partnership between the European Union and the Western Balkans will be discussed at this Summit, with particular emphasis on the EU enlargement process and the advancement of the European perspective of the region.”
“ The lifting of measures against Kosovo and moving forward on the path of integration will be a priority during the discussions ,” the presidency’s announcement said. The agenda for the Summit’s discussions further states that “the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, strengthening economic integration with the EU single market, as well as issues related to economic development, investment and reforms are also included.” The leaders will also discuss cooperation in the field of security and defense, including the common foreign and security policy, confronting hybrid and cyber threats, as well as managing migration and common regional and European challenges. The annual EU-Western Balkans summit has become a formality in recent years. The draft Summit declaration, part of which was published by the media in Pristina, a document that must be approved by EU leaders, asserts that “the future of the Western Balkans lies in our bloc. Enlargement is a real opportunity that must be seized.”/DW
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