Zulfaj: Kosovo Has Strong Grounds for Securing EU Candidate Status

Jeton Zulfaj, the Republic of Kosovo’s chief negotiator with the European Union, took part in the panel “Integration into the European Union and Regional Mechanisms,” held as part of the 9th Conference of Ambassadors. During the discussion with the heads of Kosovo’s diplomatic missions, he addressed the EU accession process, as well as the importance and role of the country’s diplomacy in making progress toward candidate status and the opening of negotiations.

According to Zulfaj, Kosovo has strong arguments for being granted candidate country status and for accession talks to begin as soon as possible. He described Kosovo as a dynamic democracy with a stable and growing economy, fully aligned with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, as well as a proactive and reliable partner of the European Union.

The chief negotiator stressed that Kosovo’s progress on its European path helps strengthen democratic institutions, while also contributing to the peace, security, and democratic prospects of the entire region.

Zulfaj also said that Kosovo’s diplomatic missions have an important role in presenting and promoting these arguments to EU member states.

During the discussion and question-and-answer session, participants examined in greater detail Kosovo’s approach to membership, developments within the European Union and its member states, reforms, and the ways in which diplomatic missions can contribute directly to advancing the integration agenda.