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)

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Albin KURTI, Prime Minister of Kosovo

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - 2019-2020 Progress reports on Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia

Plenary session week 05 2016 in Strasbourg - European integration process of Kosovo

Eszter MARKUS ,Tanjna HAFNER ADEMI , Ulrike LUNACEK , Venera HAJRULLAHU

Study visit to the European Parliamen of members of the assembly of Kosovo Ciivil society in the enlargement process

Study visit to the European Parliamen of members of the assembly of Kosovo

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Albin KURTI, Kosovan Prime Minister, in the European Parliament, in Strasbourg. Extracts from the arrival, welcome and roundtable

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Albin KURTI, Kosovan Prime Minister: arrival, welcome and roundtable

On the 14th September 2022, Ursula von der LEYEN, EC President, delivers her State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech in the European Parliament. This infoclip illustrates one of the main stake of the coming year: the future of the Europea Union. Following the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoe) which took place from May 2021 to May 2022, EU citizens have asked for a revision of the treaties and a reconstruction of the EU. Furthermore, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have been granted the candidate status to join the EU, while discussions to enlarge the European Union to Western Balkans countries are ongoing.

Infoclip: Future of the European Union

Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK) and Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteurs hold a joint press conference in Strasbourg on their 2021 reports on Serbia and Kosovo.

Press conference by Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK) and Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteurs on 2021 reports on Serbia and Kosovo

MEPs assess the political situation Kosovo. Opening statements by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur and by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management.

2021 Report on Kosovo: opening statements by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur, and by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management

MEPs and the European Commission review together the latest developments in the Western Balkans and assess the political situation in three accession countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia. Extracts from the debates.

EU enlargement to Western Balkans - Political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia: extracts from the debates

David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with Albin KURTI, Prime Minister of Kosovo, since March 2021.

David SASSOLI, EP President, meets with Albin KURTI, Prime Minister of Kosovo: Arrival, welcome and roundtable

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina in the European Parliament in Brussels: arrival, welcome; and roundtable

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina: arrival, welcome; and roundtable

David SASSOLI, EP President, invites speakers from the parliaments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to meet for the Summit of EP - Western Balkans’ Speakers of Parliament. They debate the role that parliaments should play in EU post-COVID-19 enlargement.

2nd EP - Western Balkans Speakers' summit chaired by David SASSOLI, EP President; arrivals, roundtable, signing of joint declaration of Western Balkans Speakers Summit 2021 and family photo

Enlargement to Kosovo (T)

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