Kosovo will represent itself in the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), a trade initiative involving six Western Balkan countries and Moldova, aimed at promoting free trade and creating a regional market similar to the EU’s single market. Kosovo will be represented in CEFTA meetings by its own officials, rather than by UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). The decision was made at Wednesday’s CEFTA meeting in Belgrade.

Why is this significant: Since 2007, Kosovo has been represented in CEFTA through UNMIK. Now the country will be represented as a state, securing equal representation and participation in this regional body.

Context: The deal was reached after Kosovo’s government decided to lift a June 2023 ban on imports of finished Serbian products, limited to the Merdare border crossing. Germany had earlier warned Kosovo that failure to remove the ban could lead to its isolation from CEFTA.

The decision of the Government of Kosovo to ban the import of goods from Serbia was taken for “security” reasons last year, when three Kosovo policemen were arrested by the Serbian police.  Although the policemen have been released the decision to ban imports from Serbia goods remained in force until Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, announced on Monday that the government has modified security measures at Merdare, a border crossing with Serbia. Instead of a full ban on Serbian imports, the government has introduced stricter controls until advanced scanners can be installed.

In the context of preparations for the ‘Berlin Process’ Summit that will take place in Berlin on October 14, Germany succeeded in persuading Kosovo’s government to lift the ban offering in return that Kosovo be represented in CEFTA under its own name, with a footnote, and not through the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). 

German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, welcomed the decision on Kosovo’s representation in CEFTA. She posted on X that ‘the Western Balkans are drawing closer together. Through the Berlin Process, we have together been able to move forward on CEFTA. This paves the way for concrete improvements for the people in the region. And strengthens our common Europe’.