Bardhyl Dobra, Kosovo Caretaker Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs and Julien Crampes, Deputy Head of European Commission’s DG on Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood Unit for Serbia, Kosovo co-chaired today in Pristina the 13^th meeting of the EU-Kosovo Special Group on Public Administration Reform (PAR).

The meeting, which gathered representatives from the EC and Kosovo, focused on domestic authorities’ plans and progress towards ensuring a professional civil service, with enhanced accountability and higher legal certainty regarding service provision to citizens and business. 

In line with the European Commission’s 2024 Kosovo report and reform commitments taken by Kosovo as part of the Reform and Growth Plan, the Commission encouraged Kosovo to accelerate the efficient implementation of the PAR and Public Finance Management (PFM) Strategies, including regular public and civil society consultations. 

With the revised legal framework for Kosovo’s public service, introducing a comprehensive set of reforms gradually being rolled out, EC representatives stressed the importance of addressing the ongoing challenges, in particular the launching of centralized recruitments system in the public service, reducing the number of acting managerial appointments, and completing the necessary steps for the implementation of the salary reform.  

The EC welcomed progress made in the implementation of the digital agenda and e-government strategy to further improve citizens-oriented service delivery and of the administrative burden reduction programme. 

Reporting on progress made, Kosovo presented the 2024 Report on Human Resources Management, that was published for the first-time in September 2025. Based on this report, Kosovo informed that recruitments of women and youngsters increased in 2024 compared with 2023 and recruitment procedures attracted a higher number of applicants. 

Kosovo is committed to fully implement its PAR and PFM strategies and make sure they reach their targets as planned. 

Kosovo and the European Commission agreed to further increase cooperation, including at technical level, so that the reforms undertaken are fully implemented as soon as possible.

Background information

• The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) is the framework for the EU and the Kosovo administration to regularly discuss technical and policy issues in relation to the EU-related reforms. The SAA bodies include the Stabilisation and Association Council, assisted by the Stabilisation and Association Committee, as well as SAA Sub-Committees, which cover a wide range of the EU acquis. The meetings of the SAA bodies provide direct input into the European Commission's annual reports.

• Each Sub-Committee meeting monitors and accompanies Kosovo's delivery on reforms and identifies how the EU can assist in this process. 

• There are seven areas covered through sectorial meetings of sub-committees, on Justice, Freedom and Security; Innovation, Information Society, Social Policy, Education and Culture; Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation; Internal Market, Competition, Consumer and Health Protection; Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Food Safety; Transport, Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Regional Development; Economic and Financial Issues, Statistics. 

• Two other areas covered through the meetings of special groups are the reform of the public administration and normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

• SAA Committee and Sub-Committee meetings are co-chaired by the European Commission and Kosovo. Each meeting results in jointly agreed follow-up actions to be taken by the Kosovo authorities. The time between the meetings allows for the implementation of the recommendations and agreed follow-up actions.  

For more information, contact:

European Union in Kosovo: Nikola GAON SOROKIN, nikola.gaon-sorokin@ext.eeas.europa.eu 

European Commission HQ: Alexander FRICKE, alexander.fricke@ec.europa.eu 

Ministry of Interior Affairs: Edmir Sejdiu, edmir.sejdiu@rks-gov.net