Since Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia (enacted on 17 February 2008), international recognition of Kosovo has been mixed, and the international community continues to be divided on the issue. The Republic of Kosovo is member of some international intergovernmental and international non-governmental organisations.
Membership in international intergovernmental organizations The Republic of Kosovo, as an independent state, is a member of 10 and an observer of 1 international intergovernmental organization. The Republic of Kosovo has formally applied for membership in 4 more international intergovernmental organizations.
Kosovo, under the designation United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), or Kosovo*, is a member of 6 and an observer of 1 international intergovernmental organizations.
Kosovo is a full member of two United Nations specialized agencies, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Intergovernmental organisations do not themselves diplomatically recognise any state; their member states do so individually. However, depending on the intergovernmental organisation's rules of internal governance and the positions of their member states, they may express positive or negative opinions as to declarations of independence, or choose to offer or withhold membership to a partially recognised state.
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* (UNMIK before 8 October 2024) 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 CharterKosovo29 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 (EBRD)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 2024AssociateEuropean Coalition Against DrugsKosovo*2 October 2025MemberBoard of PeaceRepublic of Kosovo22 January 2026Member
Ongoing applications
Kosovo has been a member of the Council of Europe's Venice Commission since 2014. The Assembly of Kosovo was invited to take part in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and its committees as an observer in 2016. In February 2017, Kosovo's President, Hashim Thaçi, said that Kosovo will apply for membership in the Council of Europe. Kosovo formally applied for membership of the Council of Europe in May 2022. On 24 April 2023, Kosovo's application was approved by more than the 2/3 threshold of member states required in the Committee of Ministers and was referred to the Parliamentary Assembly for its consideration. Kosovo's application was approved by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy on 27 March 2024. On 16 April 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly voted in favour of Kosovo's membership, with 131 votes in favour, 29 against and 11 abstentions.
Kosovo formally applied for European Union candidate status on 15 December 2022.
International OrganisationPolitical Entity RepresentedApplication dateCouncil of Bureaux (CoBx)Republic of Kosovo2011NATO 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)Kosovo12 May 2022European Union (EU)Republic of Kosovo15 December 2022
Membership in international non-governmental organisations
International organisation Position Admission date Status International Road and Transport Union (IRU)Kosovo's road transport association become member of IRU on 29 July 2008. Kosovo officially became the 181st member of the IRU in May 2009.Kosovo becomes member of International Road Transport Union , New Kosova Report, 2009-05-0429 July 2008Member International Bar Association (IBA) Kosovo officially became a member of the IBA on 28 May 2009.Republic of Kosovo becomes member of IBA , New Kosova Report, 2009-05-29Organizations that have admitted Kosovo , Kosovo Thanks You28 May 2009 MemberInternational Amateur Radio Union (IARU)Kosovo Amateur Radio Association (Shoqata e Radio Amatoreve te Kosovës; SHRAK) was proposed for IARU membership in 2014. SHRAK joined to the IARU on 11 December 2015.11 December 2015MemberEuropean Federation of Journalists (EFJ)Association of Journalists of Kosovo officially became a member of the EFJ on 1 January 2016.1 January 2016 MemberInternational Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN)Kosovo officially became a member of the ICPEN in April 2016.April 2016Member Association of Central and Eastern European Election Officials (ACEEEO) On 23 September 2016, the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kosovo became member of ACEEEO.Kosova anëtarësohet në ACEEEO. Loboi edhe KQZ, Gazeta Shqip, 2016-09-23 (in Albanian)Members, Association of European Election Officials (ACEEEO)23 September 2016 MemberEuropean Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT)Kosovo Psychiatrists Association is a full member of EFPT as of January 18, 2017.18 January 2017MemberWorld Economic Forum (WEF)Kosovo participates in the World Economic Forum under its own name and flag.MemberMunich Security ConferenceKosovo's delegates are listed as representing the Republic of Kosovo.ParticipantEuro Geo SurveysThe Geological Survey of Kosovo is a full member of Euro Geo Surveys (EGS) and Kosovo is represented as a country on EGS' European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI) maps.Member
International conventions, treaties, and agreements
Conventions, Treaties and Agreements Note Signed Stabilisation and Association Process (SAA) SAA negotiations start on 28 October 2013. Kosovo's SAA was the first signed after the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty, which conferred a legal personality to the EU. As a result, unlike previous SAAs Kosovo's is exclusively between it and the EU and Euratom, and the member states are not parties independently. SAA entry into force on 1 April 2016. Yes Apostille Convention On 8 November 2016, the Republic of Kosovo has received a formal confirmation on the acceptance of deposition of acts o admission to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legislation for Foreign Public Documents, or known also as Apostille Convention. In accordance with Article 12 of it, Apostille Convention, it is expected to enter into force on 14 June 2016.Kosovo joins the Hague Apostille Convention, HCCH, 2016-11-06 Yes
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 20151 April 2016UK/Kosovo: Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement Kosovo20 December 2019EU Schengen Area non-visa agreementKosovo26 April 2023 1 January 202413 agreements and declarations with AlbaniaKosovo6 July 2023 Free trade agreement with the European Free Trade AssociationKosovo22 January 20251 October 2026
Future membership applications In 2012, according to the Mena Report Kosovo has applied to become a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), but the government of Kosovo neither confirm nor deny this news. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, Secretary-General of the OIC invited Kosovo to become a full member of the OIC.
In 2013, Enver Hoxhaj, Kosovo's Minister of Foreign Affairs, has stated that the country is 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 is being prepared. In 2014, Kosovo's Deputy Prime and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hashim Thaçi, reiterated the state's desire to join in December 2014. Kosovo's Foreign Minister Hoxhaj has said that Kosovo's goal was to be a full UN member state by 2020 and NATO member state by 2022.
In 2015, Kosovo's Ministry of Trade and Industry is also preparing a membership application for the World Trade Organization. Joining NATO's Partnership for Peace is a priority of the government.
In 2016, Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ditmir Bushati, said that Kosovo will be member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Unsuccessful application International organisation Note Application date United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) In July 2015, Kosovo applied for membership in UNESCO. UNESCO Executive Board members have voted in favor of the Albanian initiative to recommend Kosovo to be allowed to join UNESCO, 27 members voted in favor, 14 voted against, and 14 abstained.