South Mitrovica hosts Working Group on Kosovo

Local actions that can advance the resolution of historical conflicts were at the heart of discussions when members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) visited South Mitrovica on 23 October.

The delegation of seven CoR members was led by Gillian Coughlan (IE/RE), member of Cork County Council, who drew on the experiences of conflict in Northern Ireland leaders in reflections on how Kosovo could advance reconciliation between ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbs in Kosovo.

The CoR members were in Kosovo at the invitation of Faton Peci, mayor of South Mitrovica, for a meeting of the CoR's Working Group on Kosovo also attended by Elbert Krasniqi, Minister of Local Government Administration, and Agim Aliu, President of Association of Kosovo Municipalities.

The Working Group, which was created in 2025, meets twice a year to review progress at the local and regional level on reforms required by the EU prior to accession to the EU. At each meeting, the Working Group also discusses a topic of particular concern for local and regional authorities in Kosovo.

CoR members expressed their support for Kosovo's eventual membership of the EU, underlining that it is a merit-based process and that reforms on the rule of law are a fundamental precondition for membership.

The visit came five weeks after the International Criminal Court sentenced Hashim Thaçi, former prime minister of Kosovo, for crimes committed during Kosovo's war of independence from Serbia.

Quote:

• Gillian Coughlan (IE/RE), chair of the Working Group on Kosovo and member of Cork County Council: "Every conflict is different, but peace must ultimately be built and sustained within our communities. We need to ensure that Kosovo's European future is built by and for all its communities. Municipalities can build trust by solving practical problems together and delivering services fairly. Minority rights and inclusion must remain at the heart of this work. Inclusion must be visible in everyday decisions. Every fair decision builds trust. Every inclusive service strengthens equality. Every act of cooperation brings us closer to lasting peace."

More information:

• Meeting documents: Agenda and photos.