The draft law on the 2027 budget is expected to be approved on Monday at the next meeting of the Government of Kosovo. Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced that, for the first time, funding for capital investments will exceed 1 billion euros.
During a meeting of the General Council of the Vetëvendosje Movement, Kurti also spoke about political and electoral developments in Kosovo. He referred to the February 9, 2025 elections and the other electoral processes that followed, which, he said, resulted from political blockades and the inability to establish institutions.
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The prime minister said that, despite the repetition of the elections, the Vetëvendosje Movement continued to be the largest political force in the country.
“After the clear victory in the February 9, 2025 elections, following a full term in office, the Republic of Kosovo did not have full institutional stability because of the blockades that led to new elections. First, the election of the speaker of parliament was obstructed, then that of the prime minister, and finally the election of the president,” Kurti said.
According to him, the results of every electoral process demonstrated continued support for LVV. “In all the elections, the results largely confirmed the same thing: the Vetëvendosje Movement was and remains the largest political entity in the country and in parliament. For the unwavering trust of the citizens of the Republic in Kosovo and in the diaspora, despite the challenges we faced from one election to the next, LVV and I are infinitely grateful,” he said.
Kurti also mentioned the election of the president on October 6, thanking the 62 deputies from his coalition who took part in the process and voted for Justina Shiroka Pula.
Regarding the verdict against the former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army in The Hague, Kurti said the decision was unjust and should be reviewed by the Appeals Chamber.
“This verdict must absolutely be changed and corrected by the Appeals Chamber, and this must happen as soon as possible,” he said.
The prime minister announced that the government had approved the establishment of a working group tasked with drafting and harmonizing the state strategy for appeal procedures before the Specialist Chambers in The Hague. The group consists of representatives of institutions and parliamentary political entities and is headed by the first deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and diaspora, Glauk Konjufca.
Speaking about budget planning, Kurti said the 2027 budget would focus on capital projects, accelerating economic growth and creating higher-quality jobs.
“This will be a budget of capital projects, faster economic growth and improved job quality. The aim is not only to have more jobs, but also better wages,” Kurti said.
He said the budget would include projects for roads, railways and dams, as well as financial support for municipalities.
“This is a budget for roads, railways and dams. For the first time, funding for capital investments will exceed 1 billion euros. A total of 908 million euros will be allocated to municipalities, representing an increase of two-thirds compared with the budget we inherited,” he said.
Kurti also addressed Kosovo’s path toward the European Union. He said the country met the conditions to obtain candidate status and begin EU accession negotiations.
According to him, during 2026–2027 Kosovo is expected to receive 180.5 million euros from the IPA pre-accession funds. Kurti also said that this year the country had secured 119 million euros in grants from the Western Balkans Investment Framework.
He also mentioned 61.8 million euros in pre-financing from the Growth Plan, as well as the request to unblock 153 million euros for reforms completed by June.
According to Kurti, the approval of the law on SEPA on October 15 is expected to reduce bank transfer costs by around 55 million euros a year.
He said the government was negotiating Kosovo’s membership in the European Union’s roaming area. According to him, this step would reduce telephone costs for citizens and businesses when travelling in EU countries.
The prime minister also spoke about the political situation in Albania and the protests there, saying that the developments were being followed with concern. He stressed that Kosovo should not be considered a rival to Albania.
Kurti said the protests in Albania had been peaceful for around four months, but that October had also seen more serious clashes between protesters and law enforcement forces.
“We love Albania under all circumstances. It is an inseparable part of our national being, which is why we follow developments there with concern, care, responsibility and love,” he said.
According to Kurti, Albania’s democratic progress represents a historic responsibility for the Albanian nation.
“It is vital that we Albanians show ourselves that we are capable of building justice and democracy that can withstand the pressure of capitalism, as well as governance that does not submit to oligarchy,” the prime minister said.
He also rejected attempts to link the Vetëvendosje Movement to the protests in Albania.
“I was surprised to see various voices trying to attribute the protests held in the Republic of Albania to Vetëvendosje. But today we are a governing force and not a protesting force,” Kurti told delegates, activists and members of the General Council.
The prime minister added that LVV had not used the protests for political purposes and had not allowed others to use it either. “We govern the Government of the Republic of Kosovo. Kosovo is not and will never be a rival to its sister. We welcome Albania’s progress toward the European Union and its successes in the economy and tourism,” he said.
Kurti said he wanted Albania’s achievements to be strengthened and expanded through cooperation with Kosovo and joint projects in various fields.
Commenting on the clashes recorded during the protests, he said that violence and people being injured were worrying, but that attention should also be paid to the causes that triggered them.
“It is not enough to identify only those criminally responsible for the violence. Its roots, the circumstances that fuel it and the reasons that turn disagreements into clashes must be analyzed. The protection of public order and the freedom to protest must be ensured simultaneously,” Kurti stressed at the meeting of the General Council of the Vetëvendosje Movement.
He also emphasized the need for young people to have a greater role in decision-making and for opportunities to be created in Albania for a dignified future.
“We seek an Albania where democracy survives every government, where institutions are stronger than any force of injustice, and where justice is a convention and a social action through which national freedom acquires meaning through social justice,” Kurti concluded.
Kurti also spoke about the parliamentary elections in Serbia, describing the result of the Albanian coalition as the best achieved by Albanians there since 2000.
He announced that the Albanian coalition received 27,670 votes and won two seats in parliament.
“The Albanian coalition secured 27,670 votes, or 1,233 more than in 2020. The latter was itself a record number of votes for Albanians, while the latest result marks the greatest success for Albanians since 2000 and secures two parliamentary seats for them,” the prime minister said.
According to him, the unification of Albanian political entities and placing the general interest above party interests were important factors behind this result.
Kurti also commented on changes in Serbian politics. He said the students’ list came first, the coalition of former president Aleksandar Vučić failed to retain its parliamentary majority, while Ivica Dačić’s list did not manage to enter parliament.
The prime minister expressed hope that these developments would contribute to creating a new approach by Serbia toward Kosovo and Albanians in Preševo, Bujanovac and Medveđa.
“We hope that the new developments will create the conditions for the full normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia through mutual recognition,” Kurti said.
