The Acting President of the Republic of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, received today the President of the European Council, António Costa, as part of his visit to the Western Balkans and ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit, which will be held in Tivat.
Acting President Haxhiu thanked President Costa for his visit to Kosovo and for the European Council’s continuous attention to the region. She emphasized that for the Republic of Kosovo, membership in the European Union remains a strategic orientation, a political choice of its citizens and a long-term state interest.
Acting President Haxhiu underlined that Kosovo remains one of the most pro-European societies in the region. For its citizens, the European Union is a community of democracy, of the rule of law, peace and dignity. At a time of negative influences in the region, Kosovo’s clear and deeply rooted European orientation should be seen as an asset for the European Union itself.
Kosovo’s European path, the need to advance the integration process, and the importance of implementing reforms related to the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans were discussed at the meeting. Acting President Haxhiu emphasized that Kosovo sees this Plan as a concrete opportunity for economic development, for rapprochement with the European common market, and for direct benefits for citizens.
President Costa emphasized that issues related to integration into the European Union and the implementation of the Growth Plan require inter-party reconciliation and national consensus in Kosovo, beyond political and party differences. In this spirit, Acting President Haxhiu emphasized that Kosovo remains committed to advancing the European agenda through reforms, institutional coordination, and close cooperation with the European Union. She added that Kosovo has demonstrated commitment to democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights, and cooperation with the European Union.
The developments in the region, the importance of security and stability, and the need for the European perspective of the Western Balkans to be accompanied by concrete, fair and equal steps for all countries that implement reforms and respect European values were also discussed.
Acting President Haxhiu reiterated that the Republic of Kosovo remains committed to close relations with the European Union and to an integration process that values the merits, fulfilment of criteria and progress of Kosovo.
