The European Economic and Social Committee has become the first EU institution that has decided to accept members from Kosovo after more than a year ago it accepted members from all candidate countries for membership.
This advisory institution in the structures of the European Union will also have in its composition representatives from Kosovo, who will be selected through the relevant procedure. Civil society organizations from Kosovo have been invited to apply for membership until October 24.
Members of the European Economic and Social Committee from EU candidate countries will take an active part in the work of that institution in the same way as their counterparts from the bloc’s countries, but will not have the right to vote, as this is reserved only for member countries.
In February 2024, the European Economic and Social Committee became the first EU institution to accept members from 9 EU candidate countries, but Kosovo was not included at that time, as it remains the only country in the Western Balkans region that has not yet received candidate country status.
The Brussels-based committee consists of 329 members from the 27 member states.
