Analysis of the European Commission’s Progress Reports on environmental developments and climate changes in Kosovo

The Republic of Kosovo is the newest state in Europe and, as such, one of the countries with the latest steps in the EU membership procedures, where the Western Balkan countries aspire to join. Kosovo has inherited a heavy burden of environmental problems, which still faces today, alongside socio-economic and environmental issues that have increased after the war. The heavy dependence on fossil resources (coal, oil, wood), the high pollution of environmental mediums (air, water, and soil), the loss of biodiversity and threats to protected natural areas, the increasing environmental pressures from the energy, transport, and industrial sectors, the significant environmental pressures from waste, noise, rapid urbanization, as well as the low environmental awareness, make the environmental situation highly complex. These problems not only hinder the protection of public health but also complicate Kosovo’s path toward meeting environmental standards as a prerequisite for the EU membership process.  

The Progress Report is an EU instrument through which the annual progress of reforms in candidate and potential candidate countries is assessed on their path toward EU membership. The Progress Report is divided into five clusters, each containing several chapters. Cluster 4 includes four chapters: Chapter 14 (Transport Policy), Chapter 15 (Energy), Chapter 21 (Trans-European Networks), and Chapter 27 (Environment and Climate Change).  

This research aims to determine whether there is an alignment between the policies that assess progress and public perception—specifically, how well the assessments provided in the Progress Report align with those of the research respondents regarding Kosovo’s progress in the Environment and Climate Change chapter. The research employed a mixed-method approach (quantitative and qualitative) following a theoretical review of documents and other relevant reports related to the research topic.  

Kosovo’s environment has changed, with more than half of respondents perceiving a general deterioration, while about one-third believe there has been an improvement. However, respondents are optimistic about the coming years, as approximately ¾ expect environmental conditions to improve, whereas only a few anticipate further deterioration. Regarding knowledge and information about the environment and climate change, the three main sources identified were: the internet and social media, prior education, and television. Meanwhile, the least helpful sources were: radio, newspapers, and activities of environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs).