Open Letter in Support of Lifting the Remaining EU Measures Against Kosovo

Prishtina, 20 October, 2025–

To the attention of:

Mr. ANTÓNIO COSTA – President of the European Council
Ms. URSULA VON DER LEYEN – President of the European Commission
Ms. KAJA KALLAS – High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission
Mr. AIVO ORAV – Head of the EU Office in Kosovo/EU Special Representative

Dear Mr. Costa,
Dear Ms. Von der Leyen,
Dear Ms. Kallas,
Dear Mr. Orav,

We, the undersigned Kosovar civil society organizations, are writing this letter to respectfully call on the European Union to remove the remaining measures against Kosovo.

While we acknowledge that the European Union had its reasons for introducing what were described as temporary and reversible measures, as civil society organizations dedicated to advancing our country’s European integration, we have been deeply concerned by the negative impact that these measures have caused for the legitimate European aspirations of the people of Kosovo.

However, more than two years later, we have witnessed that these measures proved to be neither reversible nor temporary. These measures have challenged, but not broken, the spirit of trust and partnership that binds Kosovo to the European Union and its ideals of principles, fairness, solidarity and hope. Beyond their financial impact, they have discouraged reform efforts, constrained civil society work, and diminished assistance in rule of law, healthcare, and education. This situation continues to hinder Kosovo’s European integration, as it remains the only EU-oriented country in the continent that has yet to receive candidate status.

We firmly believe that the full and complete withdrawal of these measures at this stage is both appropriate and necessary. While tensions have decreased and political participation improved, the situation in the north remains complex and calls for continued engagement and confidence building. The participation of Kosovo Serbs in recent local elections is a positive step toward restoring representation and legitimacy. The violent terrorist attack in Banjska and the indictment of those responsible marked an important moment in confronting the criminal structures in the north. These developments, though fragile, underscore that accountability and dialogue are essential for lasting security and cooperation. Constructive and balanced EU engagement remains vital to sustain this progress and support stability for all communities.

As civil society organizations, we are grateful that in May 2025 the European Union began the gradual withdrawal of the measures against Kosovo, as well as for the decision of the European Economic and Social Committee to include Kosovo in the ECM initiative, creating a new space for the representation of citizens’ voices in European processes. We believe that the circumstances that initially prompted the introduction of the measures have now ceased to exist. In light of the establishment of new institutions at the local level, withdrawing the measures would convey a positive message of cooperation between the EU and Kosovo and would further reinforce the credibility of the Union and its commitment in the region.

Therefore, we would like to respectfully urge the European Union to consider a full withdrawal of the remaining measures. The initial steps to withdraw them have proved successful, and a complete return to normalcy would build on the positive momentum created with the swift organization of local elections. The people of Kosovo continue to face challenges, and the lifting of these measures would offer renewed optimism for our European path. We are confident that your leadership will unite all member states around the common good of the EU and Kosovo.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned Organizations:

Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS)
European Policy Institute of Kosovo (EPIK)
Institute for Advanced Studies (GAP Institute)
Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF)
Institute for Development Policy (INDEP)
Community Development Fund (CDF)
Kosova’s Women Network (KWN)
Kosovo Law Institute (KLI)
Lëvizja FOL
Advocacy Training and Resource Center (ATRC)
Democracy for Development (D4D)
Kosova Democratic Institute (KDI)