PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has called on Hungary to use its influence within the European Union to secure the full removal of what she described as “unfair” punitive measures that continue to hinder her country’s reform efforts and economic stability.
The appeal came in a public statement on Monday following a high-level meeting in Pristina with Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok, who was making his first official visit to Kosovo. The two leaders discussed strengthening bilateral relations, regional security, and Kosovo’s long-stalled path toward EU membership.
Osmani emphasized that Hungary has been one of the most consistent voices inside the EU calling for deeper engagement with the Western Balkans and faster enlargement. She thanked Budapest for its support and stressed that lifting the remaining sanctions is essential for Kosovo to move forward with institutional reforms, economic growth, and closer ties with Brussels.
“The removal of these unfair measures is vital for Kosovo to advance reforms, strengthen its institutions, and maintain economic stability,” Osmani said, adding that full Euro-Atlantic integration serves not only Kosovo’s citizens but the entire region and Europe as a whole.
Hungary has repeatedly criticized the EU’s restrictive approach toward Pristina, arguing that punitive steps undermine long-term stability and the EU-mediated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.
The sanctions were imposed in mid-2023 after violent clashes erupted in northern Kosovo, where the majority of residents are ethnic Serbs. The unrest followed local elections that Kosovo Serbs largely boycotted, leading to the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors in four municipalities. Protests turned violent, leaving dozens of NATO peacekeepers injured and prompting the EU to freeze high-level political contacts, suspend certain financial assistance programs, and block Kosovo from several development and investment funds.
Although the situation on the ground has calmed since then—with new local elections held in the north in late 2024 and partial de-escalation measures implemented—the EU has only gradually eased the restrictions. In May 2025, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the start of a phased rollback, but several measures remain in place. Brussels has made clear that the complete lifting of sanctions depends on sustained progress, including full implementation of agreements on local governance, security coordination, and the broader normalization process with Serbia under the 2023 Ohrid Agreement.
Osmani expressed hope that cooperation with Hungary will intensify in the coming months, helping Kosovo regain full access to EU programs and accelerate its journey toward official candidate status and eventual membership.
The meeting underscored Hungary’s growing role as one of Kosovo’s strongest advocates within the EU, despite Budapest’s often complex relationships with other Western governments. While Hungary maintains close ties with Serbia—Kosovo’s former ruler and the only European country besides Russia that does not recognize Kosovo’s independence—it has also built pragmatic and increasingly warm relations with Pristina in recent years.
For Kosovo, the sanctions have been costly. Independent estimates suggest the country has lost hundreds of millions of euros in grants and investment support, delaying critical infrastructure projects, justice-sector reforms, and anti-corruption initiatives. Domestic critics have blamed Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s government for provoking the 2023 crisis, while Kurti’s supporters argue the measures were disproportionate and politically motivated.
With snap parliamentary elections scheduled for December 28, 2025, following months of political deadlock, the issue of EU sanctions has become a central campaign topic. All major parties agree that restoring full access to EU funds and political engagement is a national priority.
As President Osmani hosted her Hungarian counterpart amid festive holiday decorations in central Pristina, her message was clear: Hungary’s voice inside the European Council could be decisive in finally closing this painful chapter and reopening Kosovo’s European future.
Whether Budapest can—or will—deliver the breakthrough Pristina seeks remains to be seen, but for now, Hungary stands out as one of Kosovo’s most important friends in a European Union that has often kept the young republic at arm’s length.
