Serbia and Kosovo have both declared their intention to join the EU. However, despite some initial successes, such as the Brussels Agreement of 2013, the dialogue facilitated by the EU and initiated in 2011 has stalled. The reasons for the very limited results are multiple, ranging from the internal political situation in both countries, to ambiguous and asymmetrical expectations of the normalisation agreement. Currently, the most sensitive issue, the setting-up of the association/community of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo, agreed in 2013, shows that the challenges are rooted deeply in history and have a much broader regional context.

EPRS podcast - Policy: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue: The rocky road towards a comprehensive normalisation agreement

The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries with the Union. The EU aims to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region&nbsp;and open up the prospect of EU integration.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

Parliament is fully involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process &nbsp;and must also consent to any new accession to the EU. In addition, through its budgetary powers, it has direct influence over the amounts allocated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs appoints standing rapporteurs for all candidate and potential candidate countries. Parliament expresses its positions on enlargement in the form of annual resolutions responding to the Commission’s latest annual country reports.

On 1&nbsp;July&nbsp;2013, Croatia became the first of the seven countries to join, and Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania are official candidates. Accession negotiations and chapters have been opened with Montenegro and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans

The European Union has played a leading role in the international effort to build a new future for Kosovo since 1999. Kosovo has a clear European perspective as part of the wider Western Balkans region. Since June 2000, all EU partners in the Western Balkans involved in the Stabilisation and Association process, which are not yet recognised as candidates, are considered potential candidates for EU membership. Currently, Kosovo is a potential candidate.

EU - Kosovo - 8th legislative term

Kosovo is a potential candidate for EU accession. It unilaterally declared its independence in February 2008.

All but five Member States (Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain) have recognised Kosovo’s independence. In the region, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have not recognised Kosovo. A Visa Liberalisation Roadmap was issued in June 2012. In July 2018, the Commission confirmed that Kosovo had fulfilled the last criterion. The European Parliament followed suit and decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, which are ongoing. After a landmark agreement on normalising relations (the ‘Brussels Agreement’) was reached in April 2013 by Belgrade and Pristina, the European Council decided to open negotiations on an SAA with Kosovo in June 2013. The SAA entered into force on 1 April 2016. Kosovo’s future EU integration — like Serbia’s — remains closely linked to the EU-facilitated high-level dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which should lead to a legally binding comprehensive agreement on the normalisation of their relations

EU - Kosovo

Kosovo is a potential candidate for EU accession. It unilaterally declared its independence in February 2008.

All but five Member States (Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain) have recognised Kosovo’s independence. In the region, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have not recognised Kosovo. A Visa Liberalisation Roadmap was issued in June 2012. In July 2018, the Commission confirmed that Kosovo had fulfilled the last criterion. The European Parliament followed suit and decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, which are ongoing. After a landmark agreement on normalising relations (the ‘Brussels Agreement’) was reached in April 2013 by Belgrade and Pristina, the European Council decided to open negotiations on an SAA with Kosovo in June 2013. The SAA entered into force on 1 April 2016. Kosovo’s future EU integration — like Serbia’s — remains closely linked to the EU-facilitated high-level dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which should lead to a legally binding comprehensive agreement on the normalisation of their relations.

See more on our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/eu-kosovo-8th-legislative-term_16303_pk">previous package</a> on the 8th legislative term.

EU - Kosovo (2019-2020)

AFET Working group on Western Balkans  - Exchange of views with Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement on the state of play of the enlargement process with regard to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia

12th EU-Kosovo SAPC Meeting.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Vjosa OSMANI-SADRIU, President of Kosovo

Delegation for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, including the EU-Bosnia and Herzegovina Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee and the EU-Kosovo Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee Constitutive meeting

Follow-up of the Citizen's Assembly on Disinformation - Kosovo - Study visit

AFET -  Exchange of views on the recent developments between Serbia and Kosovo

Delara Burkhardt meets with President of Kosovo Vjosa OSMANI-SADRIU

EP Plenary session - Formal Sitting - Address by Vjosa OSMANI-SADRIU, President of Kosovo

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, receives Vjosa OSMANI-SADRIU, President of Kosovo, during her official visit to the European Parliament in Brussels. This news item shows extracts from the arrival of President Osmani-Sadriu, welcome by President Metsola, family photo, signature of the Distinguished Visitor's book and meeting.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Vjosa OSMANI, President of Kosovo: arrival, family photo and meeting

EP President, Roberta METSOLA, participates to the EU-Western Balkans Summit. Before her address to the Council, she speaks to the press. One year after the 2022 summit in Tirana, EU and Western Balkans leaders met in Brussels for their fourth annual summit. The summit is an opportunity to reaffirm the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans and also the need for partners’ sustained and irreversible reform achievements, underpinned by EU values and principles.

EU-Western Balkans Summit: Doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

MEPs vote on the following motions for resolution: Recent developments in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, including the situation in the northern municipalities in Kosovo; The despicable terrorist attacks of Hamas against Israel.

Voting session, including the motion for resolution on the despicable terrorist attacks of Hamas against Israel

Vjosa OSMANI-SADRIU, President of Kosovo, addresses MEPs in a formal sitting in Strasbourg. On 3 June, the EU condemned in the strongest terms the violent acts in the north of Kosovo, where dozens of NATO peacekeepers were injured. It was sparked by Kosovo’s resolve to install newly appointed, ethnic-Albanian mayors into office in the north of the country after local Serbs boycotted the elections. The EU urged both Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate the situation immediately and stop using divisive rhetoric. Failure to do so would result in resolute measures, warned High Representative in his statement. Address by Vjosa OSMANI, President of Kosovo

Address by Vjosa OSMANI-SADRIU, President of Kosovo: Address by Vjosa OSMANI, President of Kosovo

Roberta METSOLA gives her introductory statement in a formal sitting with Vjosa OSMANI-SADRIU, President of Kosovo. On 3 June, the EU condemned in the strongest terms the violent acts in the north of Kosovo, where dozens of NATO peacekeepers were injured. It was sparked by Kosovo’s resolve to install newly appointed, ethnic-Albanian mayors into office in the north of the country after local Serbs boycotted the elections. The EU urged both Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate the situation immediately and stop using divisive rhetoric. Failure to do so would result in resolute measures, warned High Representative in his statement.

Formal Sitting with Vjosa OSMANI-SADRIU, President of Kosovo: introductory statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Vjosa OSMANI, President of Kosovo, came to the European Parliament. She met with Roberta METSOLA, EP President. Later on, she addressed the plenary. Extracts from her arrival, welcome and roundtable with Roberta METSOLA. Extracts from the formal sitting.

Visit of Vjosa OSMANI, President of Kosovo, to the European Parliament: meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President, extracts from the Formal sitting

MEPs debate Kosovo’s work to secure candidate country status and urge Serbia and Kosovo to engage in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue to make progress on this.

2022 Report on Kosovo: MEPs debate

MEPs debate Kosovo’s work to secure candidate country status and urge Serbia and Kosovo to engage in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue to make progress on this. Opening statements by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2022 Report on Kosovo: opening statements by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

EU - Kosovo (T)

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