In a press release published on Friday 22 August, the European Union expressed its “disappointment” at the refusal by the Kosovar national authorities to grant certification to two political parties from the Serb minority for the forthcoming local elections scheduled for 12 October.
“The inclusive nature of the forthcoming local elections is essential for the future of relations between Kosovo and the European Union”, states the press release, in which the EU says it “regrets” the choice of the ruling Vetëvendosje party, from which the Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, was re-elected as head of the country at the beginning of the year (see EUROPE 13576/12).
The country is in the grip of a government crisis that has paralysed it since the results of last February’s legislative elections.
This crisis is having a negative impact on Pristina’s accession process to the EU, finding itself unable to approve the funding for the reform plan demanded by the Union (see EUROPE 13671/16). (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)