“2025 ) lost year for Kosovo”: Terras publishes draft report, urges continuation of dialogue with Serbia

In this report, Terras has seen the year we left behind as a missing year for Kosovo, as after the February 9th 2025 elections, neither the Parliament nor the Government was managed.

Although all three elections held in Kosovo in 2025 were held peacefully and fairly, the normal political process was severely interrupted. As a result, some political and economic reforms suffered setbacks and the Western Balkans' growth plan could not be implemented”, the report said.

He has said that Kosovo has made apparent progress in electoral reforms, economic stability and in protecting fundamental rights, but despite these, challenges continue to remain in reform for justice, media freedom, public administration efficiency and digitisation of public services.

Terras in this draft report has said that the continued commitment to sweeping reform and sweeping governance is essential to Kosovo's progress on the road to European integration.

Regarding the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, he has said he has not produced the expected results.

The dialogue was essentially almost suspended during 2025. That was also because Kosovo did not have a government with mandate and authority, and negotiations in that form have no perspective. The European Commission, as well as the European Parliament and member states, must certainly do everything to ensure that the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue continues with new energy. Therefore, the extension of Special Representative Peter Sörensen's mandate, by February 2028, is very welcome”, said in this draft report.

For EU enlargement, he has said it is one of the most important success stories of the EU, and according to him, it should continue because the broader geopolitical goal of enlargement is to eliminate so-called <x0) gray” from Europe's map.

The major changes that have occurred in the context of Russia's fight of aggression against Ukraine should increase the European Union's readiness to face competitive global authoritarian actors. Both Russia and China have shown that they have very clear interests in the Western Balkans. Kosovo's European integration is a two-way process. For Kosovo to implement necessary reforms, assistance from the European Union is also necessary. Visa liberalisation has further strengthened contacts among people and the European perspective of Kosovo citizens”, the draft report said.

Regarding the punitive measures the EU has imposed on Kosovo in 2023, he has said they have greatly negatively affected Kosovo's progress towards Europe.

“Although EU measures have gradually begun to ease, their impact on society remains very disturbing. Particularly affected by these measures are different civil society organisations, national minorities, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, which have received significant operational support from EU programmes. The measures could also have a negative impact on the credibility of the European Union on Kosovo's population. While support for the European Union has remained very high, there is the danger of it being reduced as a result of these” measures, the report says further.

The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) will review draft reports for several European Union candidate countries (BE) during a scheduled meeting for March 16th and 17th. Reports were prepared by relevant rapporteurs of the institution.

After an exchange of views with Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos on Tuesday, commission members will discuss the details of the draft reports concerning Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Moldova and Serbia the next day.

The AFET report on Kosovo is prepared by rapporteur Riho Terras. The document analyses political developments, rule of law, economy, corruption, dialogue with Serbia and the Kosovo European integration process.

He praises Kosovo's progress in its relationship with the EU; includes criticism, recommendations and remarks for Kosovo institutions; proposes the European Parliament's political position on Kosovo.

After publishing this draft report, the same is presented to the EP by the Terras Eurodeput.

Afterwards, the committee's deputies present amendments (changing). Committee AFET votes report, and approved report goes for voting at the European Parliament's plenary session

Only after these steps does it become an official resolution of the European Parliament. /Periscopi