REL: One billion euros for Kosovo are waiting for a "yes" from MPs

2026-01-08 16:40:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Over a billion euros have been waiting to be used by Kosovo for more than a year. Receiving these funds continues to be subject to approval by the Kosovo Assembly.

The lack of new institutions throughout 2025 prevented the state from benefiting from 882 million euros from the European Union's (EU) Reform and Growth Plan and over 120 million euros from three agreements with the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA).

These international agreements reached the hands of the deputies of the eighth legislature of the Assembly, at the end of 2024. They have been awaiting ratification since then.

What is expected from the tenth legislature?

The results of the December 28 snap elections in Kosovo made it clear that there would be a simple majority to constitute the 120-member Assembly and form a new Government. However, 80 votes are needed to approve international agreements, as well as to elect the country's president.

If the Assembly fails to elect the president even in the third vote, which requires at least 61 votes from no less than 2/3 of the deputies present in the hall, the country could face new elections in the spring.

Will the Assembly approve international agreements before risking another distribution?

The Vetevendosje Movement (LVV), which won the parliamentary elections, is counting on the opposition's cooperation to unblock foreign funds for Kosovo.

Former Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Albulena Haxhiu, told Radio Free Europe (REL) that the LVV expects opposition parties not to condition the vote on international agreements on the issue of the president.

"I do not believe that international agreements should be included in the discussions on the issue of the president. It is important that the Assembly fulfills its obligations regarding these agreements, while the issue of the president is another phase, where there will be discussions. We expect their [opposition] will to vote for them, and not conditions," Haxhiu said.

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) says they will not be a blocker when it comes to approving international agreements.

"LDK has voted, and will continue to vote, for those agreements that are in the interest of the Republic of Kosovo," said Anton Quni, vice president of LDK, in a statement to REL.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) did not respond to REL's calls to comment on this issue.

However, the leader of the PDK, Bedri Hamza, declared to the media a few days ago that his party has voted for international agreements in the past, and that it will contribute to everything that is in the interest and benefit of Kosovo.

What do these agreements contain?

From the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, Kosovo received around 882 million euros, for which Kosovo has approved the reform agenda - that is, where it will spend them.

Over 90 million euros is the value of the Financing Agreement, budgetary support for Kosovo from the World Bank's ANZH, which aims to improve public finance laws and fiscal policies.

Meanwhile, 21 million euros is the value of the Loan Agreement with ANZH for the construction of new kindergartens for children, staff training and the implementation of a voucher scheme, through which families will have the opportunity to send their children to these kindergartens.

E, the Loan Agreement with ANZH, intended for the development of the Health Information System in Kosovo, is worth 18 million 600 thousand euros.

Are the funds expiring?

Bekim Salihu, from the Institute for Advanced Studies - GAP, tells REL that Kosovo has been late in approving these agreements, and that it is late in launching the reforms required by the EU.

"The Growth Plan funds are valid until 2027, while Kosovo entered 2026 without allocating the funds, and without initiating reforms. And, the additional risk is that there may be a lack of political consensus in the Assembly to approve them."

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos warned about the deadline's expiration last year. Millions of euros more are at risk, for which the agreement was signed in April 2024.

Weeks ago, the World Bank Office in Kosovo confirmed to REL that the deadline for the agreement to enter into force is February 13, 2026.

These agreements failed to be approved in a session held on November 19, 2025, one day before the Assembly was dissolved, after the opposition refused to attend the session, arguing that the LVV had dragged out the process of forming institutions throughout the year.

It remains to be seen whether the new composition of the Assembly will give the green light to foreign funds, even if it risks shortening the lifespan of the tenth legislature. /REL