The European Commission is set to adopt and publish its annual EU progress reports on Wednesday, November 4, along with the enlargement package. According to draft versions of these documents, Kosovo is among the countries that have made no progress or have recorded only limited progress in most areas.
The main reasons cited for Kosovo’s lack of concrete progress are the ongoing political crisis and the absence of a functioning parliament, which have hindered the government’s work, as well as the influence of interest groups over the judiciary and prosecution services.
For the first time this year, the European Commission’s report on Kosovo will also assess its alignment with EU foreign policy under Chapter 31, as it does for other countries involved in the enlargement process. The Commission is expected to welcome Kosovo’s full alignment with the EU in the area of foreign policy.
A significant part of the report is also dedicated to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and the obligations arising from the EU-facilitated dialogue. Due to political developments in both countries, there has been insufficient progress in implementing these commitments.
The report reiterates that normalization of relations remains a condition for both sides to advance on their path toward EU membership, as well as for economic development. It also warns that the lack of progress carries consequences.
“Normalization is not only a requirement for the European integration process. It is essential for the security, stability, and economic development of both societies and the region. The lack of progress comes at an economic cost and risks leaving both sides behind at a time when the enlargement process is gaining momentum,” the report states.
Montenegro has recorded the greatest progress, having virtually fulfilled all the required conditions. The European Commission believes this could be Montenegro’s final progress report, as the country is expected to conclude its EU accession negotiations soon.
Alongside the progress reports, the European Commission is also expected to adopt and publish a roadmap with specific timelines for the most advanced candidate countries to achieve their objectives in the negotiation process.
This roadmap will cover Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine, while North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, Georgia, and Turkey remain significantly behind.
According to the European Commission’s assessment, the latter three countries — Serbia, Georgia, and Turkey — have even experienced setbacks in certain areas.
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