All posts tagged: Marta Kos

With Kos in town, Kosovo urges EU to grant candidate status – POLITICO

With Kos in town, Kosovo urges EU to grant candidate status – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“Kosovo urgently needs to catch up on EU-related priorities,” Kos said during a press conference with caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Pristina. “Kosovo needs stable institutions and an effective government,” she added. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and applied for EU membership in 2022, but major hurdles still stand in the way of candidate status. Five EU countries — Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Cyprus — still do not recognize Kosovo, while Belgrade also refuses to recognize its independence, which hinders the normalization of relations between the two sides. Both issues remain paramount to Kosovo’s EU path, and its political instability has also deterred its progress, as it will hold snap elections on June 7 after its government collapsed after being unable to elect a president. Some “41 months after we applied for EU membership, it is time for Kosova to receive its candidate status and open the accession negotiations,” Kurti wrote on social media. “The EU accession process will further consolidate Kosova’s democracy, increase economic growth, and improve the well-being of …

Montenegro enters the endgame for joining the EU – POLITICO

Montenegro enters the endgame for joining the EU – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Podgorica has closed 14 of the 33 chapters that need to be provisionally closed before it joins the bloc. Rule of law remains the toughest hurdle, with Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos urging Montenegro to keep reforms going. The country of some 600,000 people became an EU candidate in 2010, four years after splitting from Serbia, and opened accession talks in 2012. It has set the goal of becoming a member by 2028, even putting ’28 by 28′ branding on its national airline. The Commission aimed to use Montenegro as a test subject for its plans to prevent another “Hungary 2.0,” a gradual, two-tier accession proposal designed to curb democratic backsliding after countries join, but one that has faced pushback from EU member countries in recent months. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also met with Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović on Wednesday during a visit to the country. Milatović wrote on X that they discussed “key factors we must work on as a country in the final stage of negotiations with the European Union,” including regional stability and …

EU forges ahead with membership for Ukraine and Moldova after Orbán’s exit – POLITICO

EU forges ahead with membership for Ukraine and Moldova after Orbán’s exit – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The EU previously voiced concerns about anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine, and some Ukrainian lawmakers have objected to changes being demanded by Brussels. Kachka said these objections were a normal part of the democratic process, but that rule-of-law reforms were under way. Despite the optimism, the process will still be challenging. Capitals have already pushed back on the idea new countries could be waved through for geopolitical reasons, amid concerns that future governments could backslide on democracy and the rule of law, creating another confrontation like they have seen from Hungary. However, a broader discussion about reforming the process or admitting new members without full rights has not yet gotten off the ground. “With the present Hungarian government it is possible to go on with the €90 billion loan, and with the new government, we will go on to with the accession process,” Kos said Wednesday. EU leaders pose for a group photograph in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, on April 23, 2026. | Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty Images Responding to reports France and Germany want to offer …

EU confident €90B Ukraine loan will be unlocked on Thursday – POLITICO

EU confident €90B Ukraine loan will be unlocked on Thursday – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul celebrated the news, too, writing on X that “The €90 billion for Ukraine … are coming now,” since “Hungary is back in the European family.” After initially agreeing to the loan in December, Budapest blocked it in February as a dispute flared over the pipeline. Orbán accused Zelenskyy of slow-walking repairs to the infrastructure in retaliation for Hungary’s friendly relations with Russia. Zelenskyy sounded optimistic the cash would finally reach Ukraine. “The unblocking is the right signal under the current circumstances,” he wrote on X on Wednesday. EU ambassadors gave preliminary backing to the package, according to Cyprus, which holds the presidency of the Council of the EU, after Ukraine’s repairs and the westward flows resumed. POLITICO spoke to five EU diplomats and officials, present in a meeting of ambassadors on Wednesday or briefed by those who were, and who were granted anonymity to speak freely about the deal. In the meeting, Hungary and Slovakia made clear their support depends on oil physically reaching their territory, according to three of …

EU poised to slash up to €1.5B in funding to Serbia over democracy fears – POLITICO

EU poised to slash up to €1.5B in funding to Serbia over democracy fears – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Tensions flared further in December when President Vučić snubbed an EU-Western Balkans summit. Vučić, who has maintained close ties with Moscow throughout its war with Ukraine, bemoaned the sluggish pace of negotiations for EU membership. In a joint article with his Albanian counterpart in February he said he would prefer to pursue closer economic alignment with the EU, such as joining the single market and free travel zone, rather than full political membership. Kos rejected those proposals, arguing that significant reforms would still need to be delivered to make that happen. Then, last month, Serbia came under fire over reports of violence and irregularities during local elections, along with a police raid on a university that saw hundreds of students clash with law enforcement. An EU official said those recent events, along with Serbia’s continued cooperation with Moscow, had proven to be a tipping point for Brussels’ relations with Belgrade and had triggered a toughening of the EU executive’s stance. “As a candidate country, we also expect Serbia to stand with us on foreign policy …

Slovenia’s ruling liberals edge populists, but election still too close to call – POLITICO

Slovenia’s ruling liberals edge populists, but election still too close to call – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

If Janša, who has expressed admiration for U.S. President Donald Trump, were to lead the country again, it would give Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán another ally in the European Council. In remarks Sunday night at his party headquarters, Janša said the results show Slovenia has two choices: Either the incumbent liberal-left coalition could continue to govern, or a new right-wing coalition under SDS could take the reins. Liberalism vs. illiberalism Slovenes went to the polls after a dramatic campaign that in its final stretch was less about bread-and-butter issues than allegations of election interference.  Former Prime Minister Janez Janša is pictured in Arnače, Slovenia on March 22, 2026. | Jure Makovec/AFP via Getty Images Janša, a veteran politician who has served multiple terms as prime minister, campaigned on lower taxes and stronger governance, while Golob sought to frame the election in an interview with POLITICO as a choice between liberal democratic values and Janša’s Hungary-style illiberalism.  Leaked audio and video recordings published earlier this month and apparently designed to tie Golob’s government to corruption showed prominent Slovenian figures, including a former minister, apparently discussing illegal lobbying and the misuse of state funds.   Slovenian authorities said Israeli private intelligence firm …

EU hands Ukraine and Moldova next steps toward membership despite Orbán block – POLITICO

EU hands Ukraine and Moldova next steps toward membership despite Orbán block – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Speaking after a working breakfast with Ukraine in Brussels, Marilena Raouna, the Europe minister of Cyprus, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, said: “Enlargement is not a symbolic gesture, it is a strategic investment in Europe’s peace and stability,” and praised Ukraine’s “extraordinary commitment” to reforms despite Russia’s ongoing war. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, speaking at the same press conference, said the bloc must accelerate the accession process. “We must speed up,” Kos said, adding that “there cannot be a safe Europe without a safe, democratic and prosperous Ukraine as one of us.” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka called the step “revolutionary,” saying Kyiv would press ahead with reforms despite the war. Speaking after a separate meeting with Moldova, Raouna said Chișinău was “advancing decisively” in its accession process, with reforms progressing at an “impressive pace.” “This is an important and pragmatic step,” said Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Cristina Gherasimov, adding that accession remained “the only viable path” for the country’s future, and it hopes …

EU commissioner Kos dogged by fresh secret police collaborator claims – POLITICO

EU commissioner Kos dogged by fresh secret police collaborator claims – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Tomc told POLITICO Kos was not honest when “claiming that she didn’t collaborate in the secret service … We have to do something with this information.” A spokesperson for the EPP said: “Romana Tomc has kept the EPP Group closely informed about the latest revelations concerning Commissioner Marta Kos. The Group will examine the matter carefully. For now, we note that Commissioner Kos has not denied these new revelations. The ball is now in her court.” Kos did not respond to POLITICO’s repeated requests for comment. But a Commission official said Kos “went through the extensive and thorough vetting process” to become a commissioner, adding that the Parliament “approved Commissioner Kos’s appointment in the same process as all 27 Commissioners.” An official close to the commissioner’s office, who was granted anonymity to speak about the sensitive allegations, told POLITICO: “She [Kos] is very aware political opponents will use these kinds of things to score points in the Slovenian elections, but she is laser-focused on her job as enlargement commissioner.” Kos will appear before the Parliament’s …

Iceland to hold Aug. 29 referendum on reviving EU membership talks – POLITICO

Iceland to hold Aug. 29 referendum on reviving EU membership talks – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

In recent months, Iceland — which occupies a strategically important position in the Arctic, but has no standing army — had explored expediting a referendum on the subject of reviving talks, as POLITICO reported last month. Polls show a clear majority of Icelanders support holding a referendum on resuming talks, though the population is more evenly split on whether Iceland should actually join the EU. The EU’s Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos played up the bloc’s attraction as a security guarantor in a time of geopolitical upheaval.   “A significant decision now lies ahead for the Icelandic people,” Kos said Friday in a post on X. “In a world that is changing fast, the European Union offers an anchor in a community of values, prosperity and security.”   If the referendum is successful, Iceland would need to go to another vote once it finishes accession negotiations to actually join the bloc. Zoya Sheftalovich contributed to this report.  Source link

Iceland looks to fast-track vote on joining EU – POLITICO

Iceland looks to fast-track vote on joining EU – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The Icelandic parliament is expected to announce the date of the ballot within the next few weeks, according to the two people who were granted anonymity to speak freely. The move comes after a flurry of visits by EU politicians to Iceland and by Icelandic politicians to Brussels. If Icelanders vote yes, they could join the EU before any other candidate country, one of the people said. “The conversation on enlargement is shifting,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, who met with Iceland’s Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir last month in Brussels, told POLITICO. “It is increasingly about security, about belonging and about preserving our ability to act in a world of competing spheres of influence. This concerns all Europeans.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Iceland’s Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir in Brussels last month and said their partnership “offers stability and predictability in a volatile world.” In March 2015, Reykjavík asked to no longer be considered an EU candidate country. | Halldor Kolbeins/AFP via Getty Images Von der Leyen, who visited Iceland …