The Kosovo Assembly has until March 31 to ratify the loan agreement between Kosovo and the European Investment Bank for the "Solar Photovoltaic Energy" project at the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK), worth 33 million euros.

However, all the work of the Assembly has been frozen until this date by the Constitutional Court, through the interim measure imposed after the contestation of President Vjosa Osmani's decree on the dissolution of the tenth legislature.

The agreement for the project affecting KEK is one of eight that the current legislature has in its files.

Among them are:

-Agreement on Kosovo's membership in the Peace Board
-Agreement on access to higher education and admission to studies in the Western Balkans
-Two amendments to the financial agreement between Kosovo and the European Union for the IPA Program
-Two loan agreements with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD): one for the energy efficiency project in public buildings and for wastewater treatment plants in Podujevo and
-Loan agreement with the Saudi Fund for Development for the Pristina-Mitrovicë road project.

The value of four of these agreements, including the one with the European Investment Bank, amounts to 121 million euros.

Kosovo Government Spokesperson Arlind Manjhuka told Radio Free Europe that the deadlines for approving these agreements are tight and "require swift action by the Assembly."

The European Investment Bank said that ratification of the agreement "is necessary for the provision of the proposed financing."

“Ratification of the agreement would enable Kosovo to move forward with the construction of one of its largest solar photovoltaic power plants, with a capacity of up to 100 megawatts. The project is expected to strengthen the country’s energy security by increasing the share of renewable energy produced domestically and reducing dependence on coal-based generation. It would also support Kosovo’s broader green transition goals, as the plant is expected to generate around 169 gigawatts of electricity per year and significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions once operational.”

Value of agreements

Experts in the work of the Assembly consider that the agreements have a direct impact on improving the quality of life of citizens and strengthening Kosovo's international position.

"Essentially, the ratification of these agreements means accelerating public investments, increasing institutional stability, and concrete medium- and long-term benefits for citizens," Melos Kolshi, a researcher at the Kosovo Law Institute (KLI), told Radio Free Europe.

But, according to Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) researcher Violeta Haxholli, the current situation "creates institutional uncertainty."

"Since international agreements must be ratified by the Assembly with a qualified two-thirds majority, any blockage in its functioning automatically postpones the ratification process. This means that, until there is clarity on the full functioning of the legislature, it is difficult to predict when these agreements can be processed for approval," she said.

The reasons behind the Osmani – Kurti rift

The Vetevendosje Movement, the ruling party, said they planned to approve these agreements on Friday, March 6, a day after the failure to elect a new president. The session was not held after Osmani issued a decree dissolving the parliament that morning.

The head of the Vetëvendosje Movement Parliamentary Group, Arbërie Nagavci, told Radio Free Europe that these four agreements "are of particular importance for economic development, improving infrastructure, protecting the environment and increasing energy efficiency in the country."

"Therefore, their swift approval is in the direct interest of the citizens and the sustainable development of Kosovo. In such circumstances, it is important that these strategic projects do not remain hostage to political developments, but are advanced as soon as possible to bring concrete benefits to the country and its citizens."

Consequences of non-ratification of agreements

Violeta Haxholli says that the failure to ratify international agreements affects delays in the implementation of projects and the image of the state in the international arena.

"Although international partners usually understand internal political situations, the continuation of institutional blockades may affect the pace of cooperation and confidence in the implementation of joint projects," she said.

Kolshi sees multiple consequences, both inside and outside Kosovo.

"In a global context of geopolitical changes and the reconfiguration of foreign policy priorities of major international actors, including the US administration, it is vital that Kosovo demonstrates institutional seriousness and decision-making capacity to maintain and strengthen strategic partnerships."

Radio Free Europe has also asked the other institutions sponsoring these agreements – the EU, the EBRD and the Saudi Fund for Development – ​​what possible consequences Kosovo could face from the inability to ratify the documents, but has not received any answers. The year 2025 is considered a lost year for Kosovo in the draft annual report of the EP

The necessity of political consensus

Considering the fact that two-thirds of the votes of all members of the Assembly of Kosovo are needed to approve international agreements, political consensus is key.

KDI researcher Haxholli mentions that it is very important that agreements are treated "beyond the interests of political momentum."

"In most cases, these agreements are related to the development of the country, international cooperation and the improvement of services for citizens. Therefore, it is important that the political debate focuses on their content and benefits, ensuring that the ratification process is carried out in a transparent and timely manner," she stressed.

And, Kolshi from the IKL says that the Assembly has already faced "considerable" delays.

"A special responsibility also falls on the current Government, which, in addition to its negotiating role in international agreements, must demonstrate political leadership and capacity to build institutional consensus and stability with the Parliament and other political actors."

This is not the first time that Kosovo risks losing funds from international agreements due to internal problems.

The current legislature barely met the deadlines needed to benefit from the agreements with the World Bank and the EU under the Growth Plan. The total amount of the three agreements is worth about 1 billion euros.