The head of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EOM), Nathalie Loiseau, has accused Serbia of interfering in Kosovo’s electoral process. She claimed that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and other Belgrade officials pressured voters to support a specific political list.

In an interview with KosovaPress, Loiseau also criticised Richard Grenell, the US envoy for special missions, for his remarks during the election campaign. Grenell wrote on social media that Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s claims of strong ties with the US were "completely false," warning voters, "Don’t be fooled."

Loiseau noted that the election campaign was marked by harsh rhetoric, particularly within Kurti's ruling Vetevendosje. She also highlighted accessibility issues for voters with disabilities at some polling stations.

Kurti declared himself the winner of the parliamentary elections held on February 9. However, he fell short of securing a majority in parliament and will need a coalition partner to form a new government. In the meantime, two opposition parties — the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo — have rejected forming a coalition with Kurti.

Following the election, EU officials commended Kosovo on a peaceful and competitive electoral process with broad community participation.

"The people of Kosovo exercised their democratic right in regular parliamentary elections," the EU’s official statement read.

Preliminary findings indicate that the elections were conducted under a newly implemented electoral law, and the campaign was "vibrant".

The EU acknowledged the resilience of Kosovo’s democratic institutions but urged authorities to engage in regional cooperation, strengthen the rule of law, and protect freedom of expression.

The EU reiterated that progress in normalising relations with Serbia is crucial for Kosovo’s European integration. "Kosovo is expected to implement its obligations under the agreement on the path to normalisation and all past dialogue agreements without delays or preconditions. There is no alternative to the EU-facilitated dialogue," the statement said.

Kosovo applied for EU membership in December 2022. The European Commission has stated its readiness to prepare an opinion on Kosovo’s membership application as soon as the European Council formally requests it.