Newsletter

Kosovo and EU   

2019-2020

Kosovo is the last country in the Western Balkans to go through the transition process while undertaking the reforms related to the EU integration agenda, which will profoundly affect its future economic and political development. Knowledge of the EU integration process in the country as a whole is fairly low and the professional capabilities involved in EU integration process are limited. 

Among the main challenges and opportunities for Kosovo institutions and society during 2019 are as follow:

• European Reform Agenda (ERA) implementation  by the local institutions,

• Benefiting from the Regional and the EU market as part of the CEFTA 2006 and SAA.

• Stabilization and Association Agreement- (SAA ) implementation,

• Implementation  and benefiting from IPA II (Instrument for Pree-accession Assistance) and increasing absorption capabilities for benefiting from new framework of the IPA III (2021-2027),

• Increase Institutional capabilities for efficient  absorption of the EU educational Programes such as ERASMUS  (2021- 2027).

• Increase  Institutional capabilities for efficient  absorption of the EU Research and Innovation Programmes  such  as HORIZON EUROPE ( 2021 –  2027).

Better absorption of the EU funds , Programmes and other EU instruments is crucial not only for the Kosovo's EU agenda but also for the reforms on the internal market which will lead to the support of local firms competitiveness, export promotion, FDI attractiveness  and human resources development in Kosovo. 

Furthermore the Kosovo Institutions should strengthen public policy planing , decision making process  and coordination that support Kosovo's overall agenda within the European Integration process.

Newsletter September 2019- December 2019

The EU re-programmed annual programmes for 2019 and 2020 to create a financial package of EUR 50 million for the economic and social recovery. 

The EU provided Kosovo health sector including the delivery of equipment and goods for prevention, protection and treatment of Covid-19 in the amount of EUR 5 million.  

The EU has provided Macro-Financial Assistance of EUR 100 million in the form of a loan. 

European Union deploys Election Observation Mission to Kosovo. scheduled for 6 October 2019, 13.09.2019.

The European Commission representatives and Kosovo authorities held the 3rd SAA Sub-Committee on Economy, Financial Issues and Statistics on 19 of September 2019 in Brussels.

The 3rd meeting of the Stabilization and Association Committee between the European Union and Kosovo took place in Brussels on 8 October 2019.

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, hosted the leaders of the Western Balkans partners on Tuesday in Brussels for a working dinner. 29 October, 2019.

Newsletter January 2020- May 2020

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Mr. Borell, visited Kosovo on 30-31 January and Serbia on 31 Jan-1 February 2020.

European Commission representatives and Kosovo authorities held 2020 Stabilisation and Association Agreement Sub-Committee meetings with the Subcommittee meeting on Innovation, Information Society and Social Policy, 6th of February in Pristina. 

Kosovo and EU held 4th SAA Sub-committee on Internal Market, Competition and Health and Consumer Protection, 24 March, 2020.

Kosovo and EU held the fourth SAA Sub-committee on Energy, Environment, Climate, Regional Development and Transport, 25 March, 2020.

EU supports energy efficiency in Kosovo with 9.4 million euro: creating jobs to reduce the negative impact of Covd-19 on the economy, 8 April, 2020.

The European Union is launching its “Team Europe” package to support partner countries in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences, with 20 Billion euro. April. 8, 2020.

The European Union Office in Kosovo and Council of Europe Office in Pristina call for strong efforts to guarantee safe access to education for every child during the current COVID-19 crisis”, 26 April. 2020.

Newsletter May 2020 – December 2020

European Union –Western Balkans Zagreb Summit, held online on 6 May 2020

Western Balkans Digital Summit 2020 Ministerial Meeting, Tirana on 2 November 2020

Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs within the Berlin Process, 9 November 2020.

Green Agenda on the Western Balkans Sofia Summit, held on 10 November 2020, region reached important milestone by endorsing the Leaders’ Declaration on the Green Agenda

Western Balkans Sofia Summit, 10 November 2020 launching Common Regional Market.

Aspen Institute, Germany Topic: “Regional Cooperation and the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Western Balkans” 12 Nov 2020.

Kosovo Position at the Stabilization and Association Council Meeting Topic. Kosovo endorsement of Regional Common Market and Green Agenda. 23 November 2020

Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Platforms on Education and Training & Research and Innovation 2 December 2020.

The European Union Office in Kosovo is seeking proposals to Young Cell Scheme – Rounds XIII-XIV-XV with financial assistance from the IPA II Programme Call for proposals: Young Cell Scheme – Rounds XIII-XIV-XV, 28 December, 2020.

Newsletter January 2021 – June 2021

First meeting of the Working Group on Industrial Development (WGID) under the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan 2021 – 2024. March 2nd, 2021.

First meeting of the Joint Working Group on Investments under the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan 2021 – 2024 on Friday, March 5th 

First meeting of the Working Group on Financial Markets under the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan 2021 – 2024 on Monday, March 15th, 2021.

First consultative meeting on the Agreement on Recognition of Academic Qualifications under the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan 2021 – 2024, 18 March 2021.

The meeting of the Digital Summit 2021 Steering Committee, under the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan 2021 – 2024 that will take place on 29 March 2021.

First, meeting of the Working Group on Freedom of Movement of Third Party Citizens under the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan 2021 – 2024 24 March 2021.

The European Commission welcomes today's political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III), with a total budget of over €14 billion, for the 2021-2027. June 2021. 

Meeting of the Ministers of the Foreign Affairs, Berlin, 8 June 2021.

Meeting of the Leaders, BERLIN SUMMIT Berlin, 5 July 2021, “Borderless Connectivity” benefits everyone.

Newsletter July 2021 – December 2021

First Annual Conference of the Ministry of Finance “Economic Recovery and Growth Beyond Covid”, Skopje on 6 September 2021.

Western Balkans Digital Summit, from 11-13th October in Podgorica 

EU-Western Balkans Brdo Summit held at Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, on 6 October 2021.

2021 Enlargement Package, providing a detailed assessment of the state of play and the progress made by the Western Balkans and Turkey, 19 October, 2021.  The 5th meeting of the Stabilization and Association Committee between the European Union and Kosovo took place virtually on 28 October 2021. The 4th meeting of the Stabilization and Association Council between the European Union and Kosovo*, Brussels, 7 Dec 2021.

Kosovo become an associated country at the EU research and innovation programme - Horizon Europe 2021-2027. December 2021.

Newsletter January 2022 – July 2022

Ministerial conference on “Lifting Barriers for Sustainable Tourism Development in the Western Balkans", held in Tirana on 12 May 2022.

EU and Kosovo sign the IPA III Financial Framework Partnership Agreement, 27 May, 2022.

EU-Western Balkans leaders' meeting – European Council Meeting, Brussels, June 2022

Kosovo and European Union held the 6th Stabilization and Association Agreement Sub-committee on Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation, 9 june,2022.

Albania and North Macedonia opening accession negotiations with the European Union, 19 July 2022.

Czech Republic Assumes Presidency of the Council of the European Union, 1st of July 2022.

Kosovo Assembly ratified today the Financial Framework Partnership Agreement with the European Union related to the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) III, 28July 2022.

EU mediated the Serbia- Kosovo dialogue to normalize relations between the two countries- Brussels, August 2022.

Supporting by the EU- Serbia and Kosovo have settled dispute over the movement of citizens across their border, European Union foreign Policy, 27 August 2022.