On 12 November 2015, Group for Legal and Political Studies hosted a Panel Discussion entitled: ‘EC Progress Report 2015 for Kosovo: What about a more responsible rejoinder?’ The Panel questioned the progress made by Kosovo towards European Integration, and discussed Kosovo’s remaining challenges to comply with the Copenhagen criteria in the context of EC Progress Report 2015 for Kosovo. The panel concluded that many of the challenges presented in the 2014 Progress Report remain the same for 2015 as well. This fact needs be analyzed from the perspective of the accountability of Kosovo’s institutions to tackle the Progress Report findings and required reforms. The panel pointed out the main challenges towards meeting the political criteria, focusing on the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and the economic criteria, focusing on market economy. As in previous years, the panelists reiterated the need for Kosovo to increase the accountability of its institutions in tackling corruption, organized crime and the freedom of media as main challenges that continue to be negative points in all the Progress Reports delivered up to date.  On the other hand, the panel also highlighted the main achievements made by Kosovo during the last year and the remaining challenges at the present and in the long-term future. At the end, panelists concluded that Kosovo’s institutions should take seriously the remarks deriving from this Report and further develop strategies to address them, in order to avoid repeated remarks in the next year’s Report.

Panelist in attendance:

1. Mr. Thomas Gnocchi – Head of Political, Economic and EU Integration Section, EU Office in Kosovo;
2. Mr. Ramadan Ilazi – Deputy Minister of European Integration;
3. Mr. Agron Demi – Executive Director, Institute for Advanced Studies, GAP;
4. Mr. Agron Bajrami – Editor in Chief, Koha Ditore.

Venue: EU Information and Cultural Centre in Prishtina (Opposite of ABC Cinema, Mother Theresa Str.)