Rapporteur for Kosovo in the EP: The country's future in the EU but reforms are needed

2026-07-07 14:16:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Rapporteur for Kosovo in the EP: The country's future in the EU but reforms

The rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Riho Terras, said that Pristina's future lies in the European Union, but reforms are required for membership in the bloc.

“We are working in this direction,” he said in a post on X after holding meetings with political leaders in Kosovo.
During his stay in Kosovo, Terras first met with the acting president, Albulena Haxhiu.

Haxhiu demanded that Kosovo's application for EU membership be processed "without further delay," adding that the country's progress towards the European bloc should be assessed on its merits.

"Kosovo does not seek exemption from the criteria, but a fair process, which would pave the way for obtaining candidate country status and the start of membership negotiations ," the announcement issued by the Presidency of Kosovo said.

Kosovo submitted its application for EU membership in December 2022. However, this application has not yet even passed the first formal phase, that of review by the EU Council and then sent for opinion to the European Commission. Kosovo is the only country in the region that does not have candidate country status.

During the meeting, according to the announcement, Haxhiu also spoke about the dialogue for the normalization of relations with Serbia and the "lack of responsibility" for the armed attack in Banjska, Zvecan.

In 2023, a group of armed Serbs attacked the Kosovo Police in Banjska, Zve?an, killing a sergeant. During the exchange of fire, three other Serb attackers were killed.

Kosovo considers this attack terrorist and blames Belgrade. But Serbia denies involvement. Responsibility for it has been claimed by Milan Radoi?i?, the former deputy leader of the Serbian List – the main Serb party in Kosovo that enjoys the support of Belgrade – while Kosovo has repeatedly demanded that Serbia extradite him.

During his stay in Kosovo, MEP Terras also met with the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Glauk Konjufca, and praised the role of the European Parliament in supporting Kosovo's aspirations.

"The Republic of Kosovo remains fully committed to advancing the European path, deepening cooperation with the institutions of the European Union and completing the necessary steps towards full integration into the EU," the statement issued by the MFA said.

During his stay in Pristina, the MEP also met with the leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Bedri Hamza.

The visit of the permanent rapporteur for Kosovo to the EP comes after the EP adopted its annual resolution on Kosovo in mid-June. After adopting the resolution, Terras said that reforms and progress in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, which is mediated by the bloc, remain key to Kosovo's European path. /REL