The country's President, Vjosa Osmani, is in Brussels to participate in the European Union Summit with the leaders of the Western Balkans.
In an interview with Euronews, Osmani was asked about Kosovo's membership in the EU, and emphasized that this is Kosovo's destiny.
“Absolutely. This is our destiny. It is something we have been working on for a very long time. And, although we practically applied only a few years ago, we hope that our application will very soon be on the table of the Council members. In fact, as an identity, as a state and as a nation, we have contributed to the values on which the European Union has been built for centuries. Therefore, we strongly believe that, although it is a very complex process, if the merit-based criterion were applied, Kosovo would already be among the leading countries.
However, in our case the process is even more complex due to the five countries that still do not recognize us. We sincerely hope that they will understand that Kosovo's membership in the European Union is not only in the interest of the citizens of Kosovo, but is a strategic necessity and a security imperative for the entire continent", said the President of the Republic of Kosovo.
As Osmani said, if we look at what the European Union itself says about this progress, Kosovo currently has 100% compliance with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy.
"Every decision in these areas is fully harmonized, whether it is sanctions against Russia or against other opponents of the Western world, as well as with the values that the European Union represents today."
Kosovo is also fully aligned in terms of rule of law reforms. We are a leading country in this regard. According to international indices, such as the recently published Global Gallup International, Kosovo ranks first in Europe for the Rule of Law Index, leaving behind all European countries, and is third in the world in terms of the fight against crime and corruption.
This has been the main priority of our institutions. Currently, in the Corruption Perceptions Index, we have the lowest level in the region. These are some of the areas where we have worked hard. Even in terms of economic reforms, according to the annual reports of the European Union, Kosovo is the best in the region for administrative reforms. Of course, there are still some tasks and homework to be completed”, she said.
Furthermore, the head of state said that she believes that if there were no political complications unrelated to reforms, Kosovo would undoubtedly have been the most advanced country in the region so far.
"We support Ukraine's membership in the European Union. As I said, this goes beyond the internal reforms of a particular country. If we want Europe to be whole, free and at peace – which was the dream of its founders – we must understand that we too must be given an opportunity to move forward."
Of course, we would like Ukraine to also fulfill all the reforms that are required of all of us, but this is also a security imperative. Adversaries like Russia, China and Iran leave no space untapped…. There is no vacuum. If the European Union and the transatlantic relationship do not extend their influence to the Western Balkans, someone else will come – not for charity, but for strategic interests.
"Therefore, we must ensure that, whether Ukraine or the Western Balkans, they move forward on the basis of merit," she said. /Telegraph/
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