EU report on Kosovo divides government and opposition: progress or failure?

The assessments in the European Commission’s 2026 report on Kosovo drew differing interpretations from the government and the opposition.

After receiving the document, Prime Minister Albin Kurti told a news conference that Kosovo should be granted EU candidate status as soon as possible and that accession negotiations should begin. He noted that Kosovo is the only country in the Western Balkans still without this status, despite having applied nearly four years ago.

Kurti said the institutional deadlock had slowed the pace of reforms but insisted that this did not amount to backsliding, as the Commission had found no deterioration in any sector. He listed public administration, the fight against organized crime, financial services and freedom of expression among the areas where the report identified progress.

The prime minister acknowledged that efforts to combat high-level corruption had not produced sufficient results and announced that a national anti-corruption strategy would be adopted.

In its response on Facebook, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo presented the report as evidence of stagnation and institutional decline after more than six years in power. According to the party, promised justice reforms have not been implemented, the judiciary remains vulnerable to interference, results in the fight against corruption remain limited, and the government has disregarded recommendations on public finances. The AAK warned that this approach to governing “will cost the state.”

The Kosovo Law Institute also described the report as reflecting a worrying situation regarding the rule of law and the implementation of reforms.

The document states that no overall progress has been made in the judiciary, while progress in the fight against corruption is assessed as limited. The report also stresses that two snap elections and prolonged deadlocks have weakened institutions. Positive developments cited include public administration reform, digital services and the lifting of European Union measures against Kosovo.