Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has traveled to Brussels to participate in the EU-Western Balkans Summit alongside European Union leaders and leaders from the region.
Today, Osmani was interviewed by the foreign media outlet Euronews, where she spoke, among other topics, about Kosovo’s European perspective, KosovaPress reports.
The head of state emphasized that Kosovo’s future lies with the European Union, for which, according to her, Kosovo has been working for a long time.
Osmani’s interview with Euronews:
Will Kosovo join the EU?
“Certainly. It is our destiny, something we have worked on for a long time. We applied a few years ago and hope to be at the Council table very, very soon. In fact, as an identity, a state, and a nation, we have contributed to the values that the European Union has upheld for centuries. Although we believe it is a complex process, if a merit-based criterion were applied, Kosovo would already be leading. But it is complicated due to five countries that do not recognize us, for which we hope they will understand that if Kosovo becomes part of the Union, not only will the people of Kosovo benefit, but it is also strategically important for the entire continent.”
Reforms?
“From the EU’s perspective, Kosovo is 100% aligned with European Union policies on foreign security, whether sanctions against Russia or other wrongdoers in the Western world. In terms of rule of law, we are leaders. Based on international indices such as Gallup International, Kosovo ranks first in Europe for rule of law and third globally in combating crime and corruption. This has been a priority for our institutions, and now we have the lowest corruption index in the region. These are some of the issues we have worked on extensively. Regarding economic reforms, again based on EU reports, we are the best in the region. In administrative reforms, we are also the best in the region. Of course, we have some ‘homework’ to complete, but if it weren’t for political complications affecting reforms, we would still be the leading state in the region.”
Ukraine?
“We support Ukraine’s membership in the European Union. As I said, this goes beyond domestic reforms in the respective countries. If we want Europe to be whole, free, and at peace—which was the dream of the founders—we must move forward. And of course, we would like Ukraine to complete all the necessary reforms for all of us. It is also important for security. Adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran do not leave any space unused. There is no vacuum; if the EU and transatlantic relations do not influence the Western Balkans, someone else will step in—not for charity, but because they have strategic interests. Therefore, we must ensure that Ukraine and the Western Balkans move forward.”
