One year after Borrell's report, why is the EU hesitant to lift measures against Kosovo?

The statement by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, that for the lifting of measures, de-escalation must occur in the north, one year after the report that found de-escalation and fulfillment of demands from Kosovo, is assessed as inconsistent with developments.

Almost a year after the report and recommendation of former European Union High Representative Josep Borrell on lifting measures against Kosovo, the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, said that de-escalation in the north must first occur.

Costas was publicly responded to by President Vjosa Osmani, who mentioned Borrell's report, the Bratislava agreement, and Kosovo's fulfillment of obligations, including the referendum for new elections in the four municipalities in the north.

In addition to what the president mentioned, in the assessment of Professor Dritëro Arifi, the statement of the president of the European Council, who took office in December 2024, is inconsistent with developments.

"Also, the European Parliament confirms that the measures against Kosovo should be lifted because they are unjustifiable in the way they were imposed. So, there are a lot of things that have happened that the President of the European Council did not mention or did not want to mention or there was no clearer directive from the member states. In any case, it was a very weak meeting even though the level of representation was very high," he said. Dukagjin TV Professor Dritëro Arifi.

After saying that Kosovo should have shown more caution before being placed under measures, columnist Bekim Kabashi said that fragmentation within the 27-member bloc complicates the situation – which he said is similar to that with demarcation and visa liberalization.

"I think it is very difficult to get out of them because decision-making in the European Union is consensual, meaning that all states must agree. We know what position some states have in relation to Kosovo, and some states also in relation to Serbia - which may have an impact on the decision-making of the European Union. So I see the lifting of the measures as very difficult, and the possibility that sending the draft statute of the association to the Constitutional Court will be the final condition for lifting the measures is not excluded," said opinion leader Bekim Kabashi.

In June, it will be two years since the European Union imposed punitive measures against Kosovo, as a result of developments related to the installation of mayors elected with a low number of votes in municipal buildings in Serb-majority municipalities in the north.

Meanwhile, in June it will be one year since the former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, presented the evaluation report, which recommends the lifting of what he called "sanctions" against Kosovo.Dukagjin/