Kosovo Minister of Entrepreneurship, Industry and Trade, Rozeta Hajdari announced on Wednesday, at a press conference, that Kosovo will represent itself at the Central European Free Trade Agreement, CEFTA, an initiative between six Western Balkan and Moldova that promotes free trade and aims  a free regional market similar to the EU.

“From today, in joint committee meetings, Kosovo will be represented by its institutions, without (UN Interim Administration in Kosovo) UNMIK’s presence,” the minister said. She explained that “UNMIK’s participation has been removed from CEFTA, and this comes as a result of Kosovo’s numerous efforts, consistency, and commitment to regularise its position in this mechanism.”.

Prior to the minister’s press conference, the German ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde, praised the decision, writing on X that “indeed good news for Kosovo and the entire region: CEFTA has been unblocked and from now on, Kosovo will be represented by its own officials, as it should be, rather than by UNMIK. A major step forward for equal representation and participation in this regional body.”

The announcement came after Kosovo agreed to lift a June 2023 ban on imports of finished Serbian products, only at the Merdare border crossing. Germany previously warned Kosovo officials that the country risked isolation from CEFTA if the ban was not removed.

Kosovo faced pressure in recent weeks to lift the ban on Serbian goods, particularly from Germany.

Kosovo had imposed the measure last year for security reasons, claiming that weapons could be transported across the border from Serbia. However, the EU wanted the ban lifted to reduce tensions and promote dialogue.

On Wednesday, Hajdari explained that the call for UNMIK’s removal from CEFTA is not a new one—it dates back to 2021 when the Government of Kosovo addressed a letter to the CEFTA Secretariat in Brussels through the Ministry of  Industry and Trade.

“The letter requested the removal of UNMIK from the mechanism and insisted that Kosovo be represented equally alongside other countries,” Hajdari explained.

Kosovo’s name in CEFTA will be written with an asterisk which will lead to a footnote stating that the representation of Kosovo is without prejudice to UN Security Council Resolution 1244—a reflection of Serbia’s refusal to recognize it as an independent state.

This move also comes days before a summit of the Berlin Process, an EU-backed platform for high-level cooperation between Balkan countries.