The European Commission’s annual progress report, in line with the 2021 Enlargement Policy, emphasized political instability and the pandemic hampered the agenda on EU-related reforms in Kosovo.

The report also underlined that Kosovo must engage in a constructive way in “implementing all agreements” reached during the Dialogue with Serbia and “contribute in achieving an inclusive deal”.

The EU Commission had also several reservations on the judicial system, assessing that it remains “slow, inefficient and sensitive to political influences”.

When the EU representative submitted the report to Prishtina, it also urged the government to pursue its efforts in combatting crime.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti noted that Kosovo scored significant progress in the second half of the year, a time that coincides with his arrival in power.

“In these six months of governance, we have institutional stability, democratic legitimacy as well as gained citizens’ trust in the institutions, which makes up for a major social progress, that is to be envied, not solely by the region, but also in several EU member countries”, Kurti said.

On the other hand, Kosovo has fulfilled the conditions on visa liberalization, said the EU Commission for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, adding that among criteria is normalizing relations with Serbia through the Dialogue, as well as the vetting process.

“The Commission stands by the assessment made in July 2018, that Kosovo has fulfilled all conditions for visa liberalization”, said the EU Commissioner.

In terms of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, both countries need to advance in their road to the bloc and reach an inclusive agreement through the Dialogue, the report noted.

“A constructive engagement in the Dialogue with Serbia is necessary, while unilateral actions must be avoided”, emphasized Varhelyi, adding that Kosovo must follow Albania’s footsteps in regards to the vetting process.

The report highlighted the country’s progress in countering terrorism, but that it should do more on tackling money laundering. Freedom of speech and the media in Kosovo, according to the report, is worse in Kosovo than in the other countries of the region.