Kosovo’s Chief Negotiator with the European Union, Jeton Zulfaj, took part today in the Slavkov Format Conference on the Western Balkans, held in Vienna at the invitation of Austria’s Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Family, Ms Claudia Bauer.
The Chief Negotiator thanked Minister Bauer for the invitation to the conference in this format, which is chaired by Austria this year.
Discussions focused on youth and gradual EU integration, as well as maintaining the credibility and momentum of the enlargement policy.
In his interventions, Mr Zulfaj stressed that Kosovo is one of the youngest societies in Europe, with young people who are making it proud through their achievements in sport, the arts and cinematography.
Participation in Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, Creative Europe, Digital Europe and other EU programmes is creating greater opportunities for mobility, study, research, entrepreneurship and creativity.
He called for Kosovo’s full association with Erasmus+ and also welcomed the negotiations on opening the DiscoverEU programme to Kosovo from 2027, expressing hope that they would be concluded swiftly, as a tangible benefit of gradual integration for the generation that most strongly supports the European path.
At the same time, Kosovo is implementing the Reform Agenda and working towards integration into SEPA and Roam Like at Home.
Kosovo is proactive in regional cooperation; however, the agreements reached within the framework of the Berlin Process have yet to be fully implemented. Serbia has blocked the agreement on the recognition of diplomas, while Bosnia and Herzegovina has blocked the agreement on visa-free movement using identity cards, despite Kosovo having facilitated the movement of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Chief Negotiator stressed that, thanks to visa liberalization with the EU, citizens of Kosovo can travel more easily to Vienna than to Sarajevo, which is unacceptable. Recognition of diplomas and freedom of movement are at the heart of mobility and form part of the fundamental freedoms promoted by the European Union.
Regarding Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), Zulfaj welcomed the European Democratic Shield initiative and stressed the importance of media literacy for young people, who are increasingly targeted by malicious actors.
He stressed that candidate-country status and the opening of accession negotiations are the next steps, deserved and in the interest of both Kosovo and the European Union. The EU must meet young people’s expectations for a Europe where those who promote its values and meet its standards find their place. This is also the EU’s best communication strategy.
