Prime Minister Edi Rama has reacted to the decision of the Kosovo government to issue temporary residence permits for 12 months to members of the undocumented Serbian community in Kosovo and to recognize identity cards issued by the Serbian authorities.
In a reaction on the X platform, Rama underlined that he welcomes the coordination between Kosovo and the European Union on the Law on Foreigners, stressing that the destruction of parallel structures is a difficult task and that the EU must move forward with Kosovo’s application for membership.
“We welcome the Kosovo-EU coordination on the Law on Foreigners. Destroying parallel structures is hard work. The EU must match that courage and lift the punitive measures, move forward with Kosovo’s application for membership. A Western Balkans fully within the EU is not charity. It is Europe’s own strategic victory“, writes Rama.
The Kosovo authorities have announced that the full implementation of the Law on Foreigners and Vehicles will begin on March 15.
According to these laws, all those who do not have Kosovo documents will have to be provided with a residence permit, while vehicles with foreign license plates will not be able to circulate in Kosovo for more than three months, except in cases where they have special authorization.
The new relief measures for the Serbian community were decided after the meeting held on March 14 in Pristina between the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the special representative of the European Union for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Peter Sorensen.
In the press conference with Sorensen and the head of the EU office in Pristina, Aivo Orav, Kurti said that the government will continue the work for the complete fusion of the Serbian education and health system in the unique system of Kosovo.
The same applies to Serbian students staying in Kosovo for studies, for whom the municipal leaders will provide their list in detail.
EU Special Envoy Sorensen said he welcomes Kosovo’s commitment to the rule of law and its decision to gradually implement the Law on Foreigners and the Law on Vehicles.
We welcome Kosovo – EU coordination on the Law on Foreigners. Dismantling parallel structures is hard work. The EU should match that courage and lift punitive measures, move on Kosovo’s membership application.
A Western Balkans fully inside the EU is not charity. It is Europe’s…— Edi Rama (@ediramaal) March 14, 2026
