Statement by Ambassador H.E. Eglantina Gjermeni,

Permanent Representative of Albania to the International Organizations in Vienna,

in response to the report by the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo

Meeting 1566 of the Permanent Council

28 May 2026, Vienna

Thank you, Mr. Chair,

Albania thanks the Head of Mission, Ambassador Gerard McGruk, for his comprehensive report and for his team’s continued engagement across Kosova during a politically and institutionally demanding time.

We commend the close partnership that the Mission has with the institutions and people of the Republic of Kosova. The Mission’s work goes in support of the country’s reforms and communities, democratization, the rule of law, and the consolidation of institutions.

The Mission continues to enjoy the trust of all communities, including in times of heightened sensitivities. As OSCE’s largest field operation and with its expansive footprint across the country, the Mission continues to provide early warning and factual reporting – crucial in countering false allegations and misinformation – as well as to promote tolerance, dialogue, human rights, and build bridges between communities. Its work is important also for regional advancement.

We praise the Mission’s support for transparent and inclusive governance, as well as its strong engagement with civil society as a key partner for positive social change. We strongly believe in the role of women and youth in advancing inter- and intra-community dialogue, areas where the Mission is active and effective.

We encourage the Mission to continue to include measurable indicators of progress in its future assessments, while adapting its work to evolving realities on the ground.

We reiterate our recommendation that the reporting practice of the Head of Mission in Kosovo be aligned with that of other OSCE field operations in South-East Europe, so that future reporting to the Permanent Council is conducted on an annual basis.

Mr. Chair,

The reporting period was marked by institutional challenges and complex political developments in the country. Nevertheless, Kosova’s institutions demonstrated resilience and respect for constitutional procedures, reflecting the democratic maturity of its institutional framework.

This was also illustrated by the orderly conduct of the October 2025 local elections and the subsequent electoral processes, which allowed citizens across all municipalities to participate freely and competitively, as well as the extraordinary parliamentary elections of December 2025.

We see the implementation of the Law on Foreigners and the Law on Vehicles as part of the legitimate exercise of state authority and an effort to strengthen legal certainty, accountability, and equal application of the law throughout the territory of the Republic of Kosova.

At the same time, Albania recognizes the importance of continued dialogue and co-ordination with communities and international partners, and careful implementation of lawful measures in order to preserve trust and inter-community stability.

As reflected in the Mission’s report, implementation was accompanied by transitional arrangements, public outreach efforts, and co-ordination with municipalities, civil society, the EU Office, the EU Special Representative, and other international partners, with the objective of minimizing disruption and ensuring continuity of essential services.

Kosova’s institutions have consistently reaffirmed their readiness to engage constructively with all communities and to safeguard continued access to essential services, including education and healthcare, throughout this transition. In this vein, we welcome the agreement reached in March on one-year residence permits agreed for Serbian students and health and education workers.

We note the report’s assessment that the overall trend in security incidents affecting non-majority communities has decreased significantly over recent years. In this regard, it remains important to distinguish between general criminal incidents and cases legally classified as hate crimes or ethnically motivated acts, so as to avoid perceptions that may unnecessarily heighten tensions.

Mr. Chair, colleagues,

As the report highlights, despite internal political dynamics, Kosova continued to mark progress in anti-corruption efforts, whistle-blower protections, and media freedom. It improved by 15 places in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index – the only positive movement recorded in South-East Europe – and marked also a three-point improvement in the Corruption Perception Index score.

Kosova remains firmly anchored on its European integration path and fully aligned with the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. Albania believes that this consistent commitment deserves proper recognition and should be met with the granting of EU candidate country status to Kosova. We repeat also our strong hope and call for Kosova to take up its rightful place as the Council of Europe’s newest member State as soon as possible.

Mr. Chair, colleagues,

Albania fully supports the improvement of the living situation for people across Kosova. We, therefore, commend the Mission’s continued encouragement of non-majority communities to make full use of Kosova’s institutions to secure and access their legal rights.

We call on Belgrade to refrain from attempts to instrumentalize the Serbian community in Kosova and from obstructing their full integration into the country’s institutions. All citizens of Kosova, without distinction, can and should receive the necessary services through Kosova’s official and legitimate institutions.

Albania reiterates the importance of ensuring full accountability for the deadly terrorist attack in Banjska in September 2023. Likewise, we repeat our call for full accountability for the attacks against KFOR, media, and Kosova Police during the violent protest by Kosova Serbs in May 2023, as well as for the explosion at the Zubin Potok canal in November 2024.

We welcome the first meeting of the Joint Commission on Missing Persons convened in January and call for tangible progress in clarifying the fate of all missing persons without further delay.

We reiterate that the EU-facilitated Dialogue remains the only viable path toward the full normalization of relations between Kosova and Serbia, representing an essential contribution to a new chapter in relations between the two neighbouring countries, and to lasting peace, stability, and co-operation across the wider region.

We urge the parties to implement in full, in good faith, and without delay the Agreement on the Path to Normalization and its Implementation Annex. Albania will continue to strongly support this process and remains ready to contribute constructively.

Mr. Chair,

The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosova, and its right to consolidate law and order, and democratic and multi-ethnic institutions, must not be questioned. Rule of law and democracy are the best guarantees for peace and security in Kosova and the region.

Albania remains unwavering in its commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous Western Balkans, and to continued co-operation with its neighbours, as we progress on our common EU accession path.

We wish Ambassador McGruk and his team success in their work! Thank you!