EU warns Kosovo over politicisation of election lists

December 31, 2024 – The European Union has warned Kosovo it risks undermining its democratic progress by politicising the certification of electoral lists for February’s parliamentary elections.

This comes after the ruling Self-Determination Movement (Vetëvendosje) attempted to block the certification of the Serbian List, the main political party representing Serbs in Kosovo.

The EU has urged Kosovo to certify electoral lists based on legal criteria, ensuring all candidates can participate in free and fair elections, in line with Kosovo’s laws.

In a statement, the EU stressed that blocking the certification of a political party for political reasons, rather than legal ones, would set Kosovo back. “The non-certification of a political party due to political considerations would mark a serious setback,” the EU said, citing positive progress on Kosovo’s electoral framework in December 2023.

The warning follows a legal challenge by Vetëvendosje against the certification of the Serbian List. On Tuesday, Kosovo’s Supreme Court rejected the appeal, allowing the party to take part in the elections.

The ruling party had argued the Serbian List does not recognise Kosovo’s independence and continues to refer to it as an autonomous province of Serbia, “Kosovo and Metohija.”

With the court’s decision, Kosovo’s Central Election Commission (CEC) is expected to certify the Serbian List, giving it the green light for the February 9 vote.

The EU has called on the CEC to ensure a transparent, inclusive, and credible election process. The CEC has already certified 27 political parties for the election, which will be Kosovo’s first regular parliamentary vote since its 2008 declaration of independence.