Foreign relations of Kosovo are accomplished by efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo. Kosovo operates 33 embassies abroad and is host to 22 embassies in Pristina. Kosovo has membership in several international organisations.
On 17 February 2008, members of the Assembly of Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. This move was controversial among the international community. International supervision over the direction of the assembly ended in September 2012, and Kosovo became responsible for its own governance. The Republic of Kosovo has been recognised by 110 UN member states, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Cook Islands, and Niue.
The current Foreign Minister of Kosovo is Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz.
Status of diplomatic relations The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo has initiated the process of establishing diplomatic relations with all states that have recognised Republic of Kosovo, either by opening new missions or through accreditation of non-resident ambassadors to these countries.Kosova and Liechtenstein to establish diplomatic relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, 2012-06-28
Diplomatic relations List of countries which Kosovo maintains diplomatic list with by date: #CountryDate1 (Details)2 (Details)3 (Details)4 (Details)5 (Details)6 (Details)7 (Details)8 (Details)910 (Details)11 (Details)12 (Details)— (suspended)13 (Details)14 (Details)15 (Details)16 (Details)17 (Details)18 (Details)19 (Details)20 (Details)21 (Details)22 (Details)23 (Details)24 (Details)25 (Details)26 (Details)27 (Details)28 (Details)29 (Details)30 (Details)31 (Details)32 (Details)33 (Details)34 (Details)35 (Details)363738 (Details)39 (Details)40 (Details)41 (Details)42434445 (Details)4647 (Details)4849 (Details)5051525354 (Details)555657 (Details)58596061626364 6566 (Details)6768697071 (Details)72— (suspended)73— (suspended)—7374—75767778798081 (Details)82838485 (Details)8687888990919293 (Details)94 (Details)9596 (Details)
Consular relations #CountryDate1 (Details)
Membership in international organisations International OrganisationPolitical Entity RepresentedApplication dateAdmission dateStatusDuring United Nations administrationSoutheast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI)UNMIK ObserverSECI observers South East Europe Transport Observatory (SEETO)Kosovo* 11 June 2004MemberEnergy Community Kosovo* 1 July 2006MemberEuropean Common Aviation Area (ECAA)UNMIK 30 November 2006MemberCentral European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)Kosovo* 6 April 2006 26 July 2007MemberAfter the Declaration of IndependenceInternational Monetary Fund (IMF)Republic of Kosovo 10 July 2008 29 June 2009MemberWorld Bank (WB)Republic of Kosovo 10 July 2008 29 June 2009MemberAdriatic CharterKosovo*29 March 2012Ministri i FSK-së Agim Ҫeku kërkoi antarsimin në “Karta e Adriatikut” , Ministry for Kosovo Security Force, 2012-03-29 (in Albanian): "KSF Minister Agim Ҫeku sought membership in the "Adriatic Charter" ... presented reasonable and reasoned request for membership of the Republic of Kosovo ... Next Conference of Ministers of Defense is expected to take place in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where it is expected that the Republic of Kosovo is a member with full rights."2012Kosovo looking to join the Adriatic CharterObserverEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD)Republic of KosovoKosovo joins EBRD: "...majority decision to include the Republic of Kosovo as member.", Estonia MFA 2010 or 2009 17 December 2012EBRD – Our shareholdersMemberRegional Cooperation Council (RCC)Formerly the Stability Pact for South Eastern EuropeKosovo* 23 February 2013MemberCouncil of Europe Development Bank (CEB)Republic of Kosovo 14 June 2013MemberVenice CommissionRepublic of Kosovo13 June 2014MemberOrganisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) Republic of Kosovo29 November 2014ObserverSouth-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Kosovo*23 May 2015MemberParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)Kosovo*28 January 2016ObserverEgmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units Republic of Kosovo1 February 2017MemberWorld Customs Organization (WCO) Republic of Kosovo3 March 2017, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, 2017-03-04 (in Albanian)MemberPermanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Republic of Kosovo6 November 20155 January 2016Kosovo towards accession to the Apostille Convention and to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of KosovoKosova anëtarësohet në Gjykatën e Përhershme të Arbitrazhit, TRT in Albanian 2016-06-15MemberEuropean Qualifications Framework Advisory Group (EQF)Republic of Kosovo18 December 2015MemberInternational Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA)Republic of Kosovo21 February 2017MemberBureau of International Expositions (BIE)Republic of Kosovo18 March 2017Kosovo joins the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo, 2016-03-18MemberAssemblée parlementaire de la francophonie (APF)Republic of Kosovo9 July 2018 ObserverOrganisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)Republic of Kosovo9 October 2018 11 October 2018AssociateEuropean Political Community (EPC)Kosovo*6 October 2022MemberInternational Commission on Missing PersonsRepublic of Kosovo19 July 2023MemberNATO Parliamentary AssemblyKosovo24 March 2024AssociateBoard of PeaceRepublic of Kosovo22 January 2026Member
Ongoing applications
Enver Hoxhaj, Kosovo's Minister of Foreign Affairs during 2011–14 and 2016–17, stated in November 2013 that the country was considering making applications for membership in three United Nations specialized agencies in the first half of 2013, and that an application for membership of the Council of Europe in 2014 was being prepared. Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi reiterated the state's desire to join in December 2014. Kosovo is also preparing a membership application for the World Trade Organization. Joining NATO's Partnership for Peace is a priority of the government. Hoxhaj said in 2014 that Kosovo's goal is to be a full UN member state by 2020 and a NATO member state by 2022. On 15 December 2022 Kosovo filed a formal application to become a member of the European Union.
International OrganisationPolitical Entity RepresentedApplication dateCouncil of Bureaux (CoBx)Republic of Kosovo2011ECE/TRANS/SC.1/2012/1 – (CoB) Report from the PresidentNATO Partnership for Peace (PfP)Republic of KosovoJuly 2012International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) Republic of Kosovo April 2015KOSOVA NË PRITJE TË KRITEREVE TË REJA PËR ANËTARËSIM NË INTERPOL , TV ShenjaCouncil of Europe (CoE)Republic of Kosovo12 May 2022European Union (EU)Republic of Kosovo15 December 2022
Names used to represent Kosovo
Kosovo is represented under the name: "Republic of Kosovo"; "Kosovo*" (with an asterisk), depending on the particular international forum. A list is set out above. The name "Republic of Kosovo" is self-explanatory and is the preferred nomenclature of the Pristina Government. The name "Kosovo*" with an asterisk is used in other fora. Where this name is used, the asterisk is linked to a footnote which reads:
This "Kosovo*" designation was the outcome of an arrangement agreed to between Pristina and Belgrade in talks mediated by the European Union. This arrangement, which has been dubbed the "asterisk agreement" was agreed in an 11-point arrangement agreed on 24 February 2012.
"UNMIK" is an acronym for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, which has joined several organisations on behalf of Kosovo.
International treaties and conventions International treaty or conventionPolitical Entity RepresentedSignatureRatificationFree Trade Agreement with AlbaniaUNMIK7 July 20031 October 2003Free Trade Agreement with North MacedoniaUNMIK2 February 2006Free Trade Agreement with CroatiaUNMIK28 September 20061 November 2006Free Trade Agreement with Bosnia and HerzegovinaUNMIK19 October 20061 December 2006Provisional applicationEU Pan-EURO-MED RoO conventionKosovo under UNSCR 1244 Free Trade Agreement with TurkeyKosovo27 September 20131 September 2019Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EUKosovo22 October 2015UK/Kosovo: Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement Kosovo20 December 2019EU Schengen Area non-visa agreementKosovo26 April 202313 agreements and declarations with AlbaniaKosovo6 July 2023
See also International recognition of Kosovo Membership of Kosovo in international organizations List of diplomatic missions of Kosovo Membership of Kosovo in international sports federations International Court of Justice advisory opinion on Kosovo's declaration of independence Kosovo–Serbia relations Bosnia and Herzegovina–Kosovo relations Accession of Kosovo to the European Union Kosovo–NATO relations Visa policy of Kosovo Foreign relations of Yugoslavia
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