Details from Progress Report: Kosovo criticised for Parliament judiciary called for acceleration of dialogue

The European Commission in the annual progress report on Kosovo has a series of criticisms, but also estimates.

Politically, Kosovo is praised for adapting to EU attitudes towards Russia's aggression in Ukraine.

Repeated that the European Commission remains in the position that Kosovo has fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalisation. There, too, is stressed that there is a sense that the EU Council will deal with the issue urgently.

In a draft of this report, it is estimated that there has been a political stability in Kosovo thanks to the majority that the Vetevendosje Movement had secured in the 2021 elections, but that there is criticism of Kosovo's Assembly for blocking the adoption of legislation, in most cases due to lack of quorum, in part due to the opposition boycott.

In Kosovo, the government elected in 2021, has enjoyed political and institutional stability thanks to the solid majority. This would have had to have given Kosovo the opportunity to speed up efforts to strengthen democracy and rule of law, fight corruption and intensify legislative activities, including those tired towards the EU. However, the frequent lack of quorum in the Parliament, as well as the boycott of opposition parties, has caused delays in adopting key laws” said in the report.

The “The work of the Parliament continues to be negatively influenced by the polarising political atmosphere and difficulties to achieve the quorum needed for decision-making, despite the fact that the Government is based on a strong majority”, the document says.

This draft also speaks of the functioning of the judiciary, which is estimated as the slow, inefficient and sensitive “to unnecessary effects”.

The Government's “devotion to implement in all, the Venice Commission's opinion of judges and prosecutors' veto, in close co-operation with the EU, is welcomed”, the draft report says.

Amid criticism and assessment, Kosovo is suggested that reforms in the judiciary be first made using existing means for maintaining integrity, independence and efficiency of the judicial system.

On the other hand, it is found according to the report that Kosovo has not yet ratified the CEFTA supplemental protocol for facilitating trade and services.

The report also mentions Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, which calls for advancing negotiations on the comprehensive agreement.

Kosovo and Serbia are now required to engage constructively and advance negotiations on the comprehensive agreement, legally binding on normalisation without new delays. Such an agreement is an urgent and key need so that Kosovo and Serbia can advance in their respective European path”, the report said.

Western Balkan countries are located in different phases in the enlargement process, where Albania and Northern Macedonia have launched negotiations in July, while Bosnia and Herzegovina has applied for EU membership, but has not yet received a positive opinion from the European Commission on granting candidate status.

Kosovo is the only country of the Western Balkan region, which has not yet applied for EU membership. / REL