From the EU, they send message to Kurt after asking for the removal of measures: Neither Kosovo nor you as prime minister decide on removal

Prime Minister Albin Kurti became vocal in his request to remove the European Union's punitive measures towards Kosovo in meetings he held under the Berlin Process. He asked German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for support of their departure, and he had the same request at a meeting with Italian top diplomat Antonio Tayan. That request by Kurt today was given an answer by EU spokesman Peter Stano.

“is not Kosovo, nor is its prime minister deciding whether the measures will be removed or not, this is a decision member states must make”, Stano replied.

He made it known that discussions on the issue continue to take place among the bloc's states until he mentioned his chief's report, Chief Diplomat Josep Borelli, in which the removal of these measures was recommended.

The High Representative's “has issued a statement on behalf of the EU on 3 June, followed by the High Representative's report on meeting EU requirements on Kosovo's part. Discussions about lifting measures for Kosovo continue among member states on Council”, Stano told Express.

Borrell has handed over the report to EU member states regarding measures imposed on Kosovo in June of this year, however, a decision has not yet been made.

Moreover, in August, when the Government of Kosovo launched efforts to open the Ibër Bridge for the circulation of facilities, warning came that the measures could even be expanded.

Instead of steps leading to lowering tensions, more and more steps have been taken and unilateral decisions leading to escalation. A world said the measures are progressive, they can be toughed or eased depending on the development of the situation. This part affects the first part of the question, what we will do [after the recent decisions of authorities in Kosovo]. So we have measures in place and these measures can be toughed if for such a thing all EU actors” agree, Stano had said then. However, the government did not take any concrete steps to open the bridge over Iber.

For the measures set by the EU in June 2023 due to tensions in the country's north, Kurti in Berlin continued to speculate that they were unfair.

Meanwhile, he took advantage of meetings he had in Berlin for calling out for them. From Chancellor Scholz he called for his commitment to the issue at the bilatheral meeting he held.

“From him and Germany Prime Minister Kurti sought to support the removal of EU measures, which has already been requested by EU High Representative Josep Borrell”, the prime minister's office said.

ZKM said that even at the meeting with Taani Kurt's request was highlighted.

“Prime Minister Kurti also stressed the need for removing European Union measures towards Kosovo, for which even EU Foreign Policy High Representative Josep Borrell has concluded that conditions have been met and measures must be removed”.

Also, Kurti has also called for the EU to grant candidate country status for Kosovo. The application for membership took place December 2022, but this issue was further prosecuted by EU institutions.

In our meetings, we have requested that the Republic of Kosovo be removed from unjust punitive measures, given candidate status, and the sooner the questionnaire was sent to us with the thousands of questions, which with great responsibility, patience and discipline, we will fulfill by answering all questions because neither do we want to have an alternative to the European Union”, Kurti told reporters in Berlin last night.