The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has stated that the Ohrid agreement is essential and that the commitment means timely implementation.

Von der Leyen in a joint conference with the president, Vjosa Osmani, said that the steps taken by Kosovo with the signing of the agreement within the Berlin Process, the progress in CEFTA, the permission of Serbian goods and the X-ray scanners that will be used to scanning the goods before they enter the market of our country are concrete steps towards the European Union and normalization.

According to her, Kosovo has made progress in its reforms related to the EU, but has also worked hard for democracy and the rule of law.

She has welcomed the agreement that was approved two weeks ago in the Berlin Process and allowing Serbian goods in Kosovo.

"I want to assure you and the people of Kosovo that in my second mandate, expansion will be at the top of the agenda and for me it is very important and for this reason we will work to continue because I am committed to a future where all 6 states of the Western Balkans participate in the union. We now have all the tools and instruments to make this a reality and I want to highlight the growth plan for the Western Balkans that is planned to bring the economies of the region closer to our common market and integrate into our common market. ..we have already opened the sectors of the common market for the partners of the Western Balkans so that p. companies from Kosovo can have access to the common market, for this we need reforms which will be accompanied by additional European investments. A year has passed since we started these discussions and most of the countries of the Western Balkans have their agendas ready, the same as Kosovo and I want to say that Kosovo has done an excellent job with this agenda and I congratulate it for this agenda . Now we can start with the pre-financing of more than 60 million euros that can be released before the beginning of the year", she said., adding that 882 million euros are available as part of this plan for Kosovo and the right step remains to be taken.

"We have also discussed funding for new X-ray scanners that will be used to scan these goods before they enter your market, at the border points, so this is very good news because these are concrete steps towards European Union and normalization. I congratulate you for your dedication and the will you have shown for the path to the EU and I am convinced that we will continue together in this success", he said.

Von der Leyen was also asked about the lifting of measures against Kosovo and the cancellation of the previously planned meeting with the Prime Minister of Serbia, Miloš Vučević, after the announcement of the latter's meeting with the Minister of Economic Development of Russia, Maksim Reshetnikov, in which it is stated that it was planned to strengthen cooperation in the field of economy and other policies between the two countries.

"For me it was a clear message that the president of the Republic of Serbia was hosting me and before that the prime minister of Poland and the prime minister of Greece, instead of being in Kazan there. So a very clear message was given and this it is a very good thing... It is very important that we work together and as I said we have welcomed the step of the border but also the progress of the membership in CEFTA or the representation of Kosovo in CEFTA. After that I think we should work on further steps in order to reach a point where we can achieve the lifting of the measures. This will also help to convince the member states, because as you know, the member states must give their consent for each step important to see Kosovo as our partner and make the path to the European Union possible, and you can count on me for that," Von der Leyen said.

Von der Leyen was asked if Kosovo will have as a condition the establishment of the Association of municipalities with many Serbs, in order to benefit from the growth plan.

"The Ohrid Agreement is essential and it is important and we know that you are committed to it. Commitment means timely implementation. This is important. But I think it is a good sign that we are getting the funding before the end of the 60 million that we shared earlier and this shows step by step that we will continue together", she said.

Meanwhile, the president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has called Serbia the strongest satellite of Russia in Europe, for which the European Union must show determination.

President Osmani congratulated Von der Leyen for the re-election as head of the European Commission, saying that she is looking forward to continuing the cooperation they have built over the years.

Osmani said that Von der Leyen's visit to our country is only a few days after the approval of the reform agenda for Kosovo.

"This is extremely positive news for our country. These steps confirm the EU's commitment to offer the region more and more towards EU integration and will also serve as an additional motivation to work harder for our common future in the European Union family. The road to this point has certainly not been easy, but it has been worth it, so we look forward to implementing the reforms of this plan and making the most of this opportunity in the months and years to come. The reform agenda for Kosovo is focused on five priority areas, economy, energy security, attraction of foreign investments and other areas, and it is predicted that by the end of 2027, Kosovo will benefit up to 882 million euros from European Union funds. after the implementation of all the reform steps that are foreseen in the reform agenda, respectively Kosovo will be the biggest beneficiary of this package per capita", said Osmani, emphasizing that Kosovo stands out for the alignment of foreign policies, security and protection with EU policies.

However, Osmani added that it is unfortunate for the entire Western Balkans and the EU that a country such as Serbia continues to be the strongest satellite in Europe.

"It is high time that the determination that the EU has shown in relation to Russia is also shown to the satellites and servants of Russia in our region. This is especially important regarding Serbia for the act of aggression against Kosovo carried out by paramilitary, terrorist forces in September of last year, which according to the White House was intended to destabilize not only Kosovo but the entire Western Balkans. ", she said, while adding that Kosovo, on the other hand, is demonstrating a constructive approach and is acting in the spirit of good neighborliness, advancing in the rule of law and maintaining the most advanced constitutional system in the entire European continent as far as minorities are concerned..

"So today we need the European Union to appreciate and recognize these achievements. Consequently, it is also the last time for the unjust measures against Kosovo to be finally removed. In addition to being unfair, these measures are directly harming the citizens of Kosovo without distinction and have damaged the dialogue process itself, making it unbalanced, unequal and untrustworthy", said President Vjosa Osmani.

President Vjosa Osmani reiterated that our country will continue to be steadfast in its aspirations towards EU membership.

Von der Leyen is visiting Kosovo as part of a tour of the six countries of the Western Balkans, to express the commitment of the commission for engagement in bringing the region closer to the EU.

Von der Leyen is currently meeting with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, where the media will only be able to take pictures.

Von der Leyen's first stop was Albania on October 23, to continue in North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. She will end her visit to the region with a meeting with the leaders of Montenegro in Podgorica.

Otherwise, last Friday, the EU approved the reform agendas of the five countries of the Western Balkans, which have presented them as a condition to benefit from the package of the Growth Plan of 6 billion euros.

Kosovo, which applied for EU membership on December 15, 2022, remains the only country in the region that does not yet have the status of a candidate country..