The caretaker government has welcomed the European Union’s announcement on the full removal of punitive measures against Kosovo. According to them the release of funds and financial support for Kosovo from the beginning of this year is a correct decision by the EU, even though, as they note, it comes late. In this context, the executive expects further important steps this year toward European integration and progress in key processes, including the granting of EU candidate status.

On Thursday, the European Union confirmed to KosovaPress that it has begun lifting the measures against Kosovo, paving the way for the release of more than €400 million in financial support at the start of the year.

The EU imposed punitive measures on Kosovo in 2023 in response to tensions in northern Kosovo, a Serb-majority area, following the assumption of office by Albanian mayors in four northern municipalities.

Klisman Kadiu, adviser to the caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Besnik Bislimi, told KosovaPress that the release of financial funds for Kosovo from the beginning of this year is positive for the country, even if the step is delayed.

He also stressed the need for the EU to take additional significant steps forward in the European integration process.

“The European Union, through its President Ursula von der Leyen, has already publicly announced that it will proceed with lifting the measures, which will enable the release of funds for Kosovo and financial support from the beginning of this year. We welcome the EU’s decision, even though it is delayed. Going forward, we expect further important steps in European integration and progress in long-delayed processes, such as obtaining candidate country status,” Kadiu said in a response to KosovaPress.

European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper told KosovaPress that, in addition to the €216 million released in December 2025, the EU aims to release a further €205 million very soon, at the beginning of this year.

She said the decision was taken following the calm and orderly transfer of local governance in northern Kosovo after the most recent local elections, and provided details on the projects from which Kosovo will benefit.

“We have released approximately 50% of the financial assistance, amounting to around €216 million. This will allow the signing of contracts for four projects (representing a total EU contribution of €34.6 million) and the start of implementation; it will also complete the programming of all remaining IPA III funds allocated to Kosovo (€181 million, with the Commission’s financing decision planned for spring 2026, which would allow the first projects to begin in the second half of 2026). In addition, the Commission aims to release the remaining €205 million at the beginning of this year, in line with the Presidency Conclusions on Enlargement adopted on 16 December,” the EU spokesperson said in a response to KosovaPress.

Meanwhile, Arbëreshë Loxha, a researcher at the Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS), told KosovaPress that lifting the measures and unlocking financial support is also important for Kosovo’s international image.

According to her, once new institutions are formed, significant efforts should be made to repair any potential damage the measures may have caused.

On Thursday, the European Commission also confirmed that it expects the full removal of measures against Kosovo in the coming weeks.

Jan Gert Koopman, Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission, stressed that this involves the release of more than €400 million, including funds from measures that the Commission had already lifted initially in December last year.

He explained that institutions are working in parallel on programming the funds and contracting the projects to be financed. /E.Zeqiri/