The Kosovo-Spain Bilateral Relationship: How to Improve the Relationship?

The unique challenge of Spain’s continued non-recognition is a significant hurdle for Kosovo on the path toward Euro-Atlantic integration. Madrid’s long-standing opposition to recognition, characterised by concerns about setting a precedent in Catalonia and the Basque Country, further complicates the situation. Despite the complex bilateral relationship, recent developments, including Kosovo’s visa liberalisation, progress in the Council of Europe, and the appointment of a new EU Special Representative, present opportunities for a promising way forward that can reshape historical attitudes and enhance practical cooperation.

This brief, following the line of thought from Kosovo–Spain Relations: How to Move on in 2025, outlines several practical ideas on how Kosovo can engage with Spain in 2025 and beyond. The objective is to identify status-neutral avenues, people-to-people ties, and parliamentary initiatives that can normalise Kosovo as a European partner. While recognising that a sudden reversal of Spain’s stance on recognition is unlikely in the short term, these strategies, if implemented, hold the potential to significantly improve Kosovo-Spain relations.

Yerai Dheur is a research intern at the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), and is a recent graduate on Global Studies at Maastricht University.