Can a nation join the European Union without being recognized as a state?
In short: Kosovo's path to the EU is a diplomatic tightrope. While the territory has formally applied for membership, five EU member states do not recognize its sovereignty. This creates a unique legal landscape where integration continues through complex mechanisms, even as the fundamental status of the nation remains a subject of intense negotiation.
The path to European integration for Kosovo is defined by a paradox of recognition. While Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008, its sovereignty remains unrecognised by five of the 27 EU member states: Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain. Because of this, the European Union officially refers to the territory simply as "Kosovo," using an asterisked footnote to clarify that this designation does not prejudice any position on its status, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the International Court of Justice opinion.
Despite these diplomatic hurdles, Kosovo has actively pursued integration through the Stabilisation Tracking Mechanism (STM). Established on 6 November 2002, the STM allows for policy dialogue on legal, economic, and social matters, helping align national policies with EU standards. This was followed by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), which was signed on 27 October 2015 and entered into force on 1 April 2016. Notably, the SAA was the first of its kind to be co-signed by the EU as a legal entity, a necessity because the agreement's signing could not signify recognition of Kosovo as a state.
The future of Kosovo's membership remains uncertain. While the European Commission's 2018 expansion plan envisioned that six Western Balkan countries, including Kosovo, could achieve accession after 2025, full membership requires the recognition of all EU member states. Some officials, such as former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, have suggested that the recognition of Kosovo by Serbia might be a prerequisite for its entry. Meanwhile, Kosovo formally submitted its application for membership on 15 December 2022, placing its future squarely in the hands of ongoing Belgrade–Pristina negotiations.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Accession of Kosovo to the European Union
- Also: Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) — The EU Midwifery Directive and Professional Strengthening in New EU Member States and Candidate Countries. · CC BY
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