An ALDE Party Bureau delegation led by co-President Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP travelled to Pristina, Kosovo on 13-14 October for a series of meetings with political leaders and civil society representatives to learn more about the cooperation between Kosovo and the EU and current political initiatives.
“I had the pleasure to lead the mission of ALDE Party in Kosovo. I define it as fruitful and very successful! Thanks to PDK and Memli Krasniqi for the warm welcome. It is of paramount importance for us liberals to protect our values, develop and disseminate liberalism. I am confident that together we will achieve the results for which we are all working hard, namely a strong liberal and European future for Kosovo and the region,” declared Kyuchyuk.
The delegation also included ALDE Party Vice-President Svenja Hahn MEP, who additionally participated in an event organised by the European Liberal Forum entitled ‘EU integration in Kosovo: liberal values and future prospects’.
We are in Pristina today to host a great panel discussion on the European & liberal future of #Kosovo and the prospects of the 🇪🇺 enlargement policy. Speakers:
— European Liberal Forum (@EurLiberalForum) October 14, 2022
🎙@svenja_hahn, MEP
🎙@vloracitaku, Vice-chair of PDK,
🎙@Sami Musa, MP, FDP
🎙Dukagjin Gorani, Kosovo Liberal Center pic.twitter.com/uQGjdSHmzy
The delegation met with representatives of the European Union’s Special Representative mission in Kosovo, held discussions with representatives of the civil society and liberal NGOs, and visited the National Assembly for an exchange with lawmakers. They also met with the leadership of the PDK Party, who have applied for membership of ALDE Party.
On Friday, Hahn met with the President of Kosovo, Dr. Vjosa Osmani.
The mission coincided with the news that some EU Member States have set new conditions on a long-awaited visa liberalisation scheme for the country’s citizens.
The network of Liberal Parties in South Eastern Europe (LIBSEEN) also organised a meeting of their steering committee in Pristina during these days and adopted a statement regarding immediate visa liberalization for people can travel freely, as well as granting Kosovo the status of a candidate state for the membership in the EU.
A series of important meetings in Pristina ended with the @LIBSEEN Steering Committee meeting. We adopted a statement regarding immediate visa liberalization so that people can travel freely and granting Kosovo the status of a candidate state for the membership in the EU. pic.twitter.com/yPsWAoACwL
— Roman Jakič (@RomanJakic) October 14, 2022
Photo credit: Ilhan Kyuchyuk, 2022.