Kosovo seeks questionnaire, EU candidate status

First incumbent Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue of the Republic of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, during an informal meeting of ministers for European affairs organised in Copenhagen, stressed that Kosovo has noted progress in implementing reforms and considerable progress in recent years.

According to him, Kosovo has, among other things, achieved the fastest economic growth in the region, reducing unemployment from 23.8% to 10.9% in just four years, improvement in international rankings and doubling foreign direct investments.

He stressed that applying for membership in December 2022 is an indication of the goal and readiness for further advancement, while Kosovo is implementing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement for nearly a decade now.

Bislimin underlined that our institutions have witnessed the high level of preparation, so their assessment on meritisocracy is needed, accepting the questionnaire and receiving candidate status.

Along with the ministers, participating in this discussion was Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, who after the meeting at a news conference, said Albania and Montenegro are the two candidate countries that advanced towards EU membership.

Meanwhile, the KOS has written on X, that, along with the ministers of Europe, they have discussed the urgency of respect for rule of law, bringing early benefits to candidate countries, preparing the union for new members and communicating the benefits of enlargement for EU citizens./Periscopi/