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Remarks by President Antonio Costa after his meeting in Pristina with President Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu

European Council / Council of the European Union

European Council
Statements and remarks
14 May 2025 20:00

Madam president, first of all, thank you for hosting me here in Pristina. It's a real pleasure to be here today with you.

I would like to welcome your personal commitment as President of Kosovo* to its European path.

The enlargement to the Western Balkans is the most important geopolitical investment for the European Union. It's my personal commitment too.

I can't stress enough how important enlargement can be to the European Union and, I believe, also for you. It is an investment in peace and stability and it brings considerable benefits to your citizens.

The growth plan for the Western Balkans is a major opportunity. It is crucial to keep up the work on the implementation of your ambitious reform agenda, so that you can reap the full benefits from it.

I welcome your words about the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue. As you know, it is also vital to make real and tangible progress in this dialogue and normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia. This should come to the benefit of your European path and ultimately the lives of Kosovars.

Kosovo's place is in the European Union family. But it also requires you to deliver on your commitments.

With a new European Union Special Representative - Peter Sørensen - appointed this year, it is time to seize the opportunity and move forward.

You have worked hard to strengthen your democracy over the last years, and I'm confident you will continue on the same path. This also includes building consensus among different political forces.

Ultimately, it all comes down to building trust, to be a reliable and consistent partner. Internally. With your neighbours. With your European Union partners.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.