How does Kosovo plan to explain the law on the Specialist Chambers to the EU?

Following concerns expressed by the European Union over the law adopted on Kosovo’s Specialist Chambers, political representatives in the country have called for coordination among institutions. They said efforts were needed to explain the reasons for the law to Brussels while maintaining relations with international allies.

Artan Abrashi, a deputy from the Vetëvendosje Movement, said the government would meet with EU representatives to explain the purpose and reasons behind the adoption of the law on the Specialist Chambers.

“I believe there will now be reciprocal meetings and that the positions and purpose of voting for this law will be clarified to our partners, the EU. I also believe that the PDK, as the sponsor, bears part of the responsibility for explaining this initiative, which has now been approved. I hope we can find common ground on this issue,” Abrashi said.

Meanwhile, Ariana Musliu-Shoshi, a deputy from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, defended the Assembly’s right to make decisions within the scope of its responsibilities. She said Kosovo should continue its cooperation with its allies, but also that the EU’s position should take the country’s sovereignty into account.

According to Musliu-Shoshi, the law was approved in the Assembly with more than 80 votes and must be implemented.

“The Assembly of Kosovo is the voice of the people and is the highest institution that makes decisions it considers to be in the best interests of the state of Kosovo and its citizens. Without friends and allies, we have never had the opportunity to move forward and achieve the objectives of our state. I believe it is important to coordinate on the Specialist Chambers as well. As for the law, it passed with more than 80 votes in the Assembly of Kosovo and must absolutely be implemented. The EU must help ensure that the right to a sovereign state, our right to breathe freely in this country, is upheld as a principle and treated as a priority,” she stressed.

Lutfi Haziri, a deputy from the Democratic League of Kosovo, said the EU’s reaction was not unexpected, given Kosovo’s commitments regarding the establishment of the Specialist Chambers. He called for better coordination among leaders and institutions so that this issue would not harm the European and Euro-Atlantic integration process.

“The other reactions coming from the EU are expected because in 2015 Kosovo agreed to share its sovereignty for the establishment of its tribunal, called the Specialist Chambers, and now a different kind of coordination and a different level are needed. The new acting president, the prime minister in particular, as the representative of the main political force, and the speaker of the Assembly, as well as parliamentary diplomacy through foreign policy, must have good coordination… They must not jeopardize the one-way path toward Euro-Atlantic integration. We are on the verge of major assessments regarding NATO and the role of the Security Force. The roadmap and mechanisms established earlier have been developed in line with the norms, while in terms of European integration we have remained at the stage of applying for candidate status,” Haziri said.

On October 12, 2026, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos called the amendment of the law on Kosovo’s Specialist Chambers unacceptable. According to her, the amendments run counter to Kosovo’s fundamental obligations toward the EU, while changing the rules during judicial proceedings is not in line with international standards of the rule of law.

On October 15, during a meeting with Kosovo’s chief negotiator for the EU, Jeton Zulfaj, Kos said that changing the law on the Specialist Chambers constituted a serious step backward for Kosovo’s European path.

Kosovo approved the new Law on the Specialist Court on October 6, following the conviction of former KLA leaders by that court on September 16.