30 November 2021

On 30 November, Balkans Group organized the conference “Kosovo in regional initiatives: challenges and opportunities”.  The conference aimed at discussing venues and opportunities for increasing Kosovo’s participation and membership in regional organizations and initiatives, as well as addressing the challenges that hinder its position in regional fora.

Ms. Donika Gërvalla Schwarz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, H.E. Jörn Rohde, German Ambassador to Kosovo and Ms. Rozeta Hajdari, Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, brought to the table their views on Kosovo’s participation and representation in regional cooperation mechanisms.

This conference brought together government representatives, experts of the field and diplomatic staff in Kosovo, who are the main actors to push for the change.

During the conference, Balkans Group presented a series of reports which focus on Kosovo’s standing in regional cooperation organizations and initiatives by identifying key challenges and providing a set of concrete actions to be undertaken:

• Regional Cooperation in the Western Balkans: Regional Economic Area, the “Mini-Schengen” and the Common Regional Market.

• Kosovo’s contested representation in CEFTA: A political and legal overview.

• Kosovo in Regional Initiatives: The institutional framework and coordination.

• Kosovo’s Participation and Representation in Regional Organizations: Mapping the gaps and opportunities.

 Lastly, Balkans Group reiterated its commitment to supporting the institutions of Kosovo on Regional Cooperation agendas.

For more, see here.