On 15 October 2025 in Skopje, the fourth meeting of the Joint Committee of the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) Agreement was held.
The meeting gathered the signatory parties of the Agreement, including the European Commission (with the participation of EASA), representatives from EU Member States, and from the Western Balkan countries.

The Republic of Kosovo was represented by officials from the aeronautical authorities, led by Acting Director General of the CAA, Mr. Arianit Islami.

The European Commission presented the continued upward trend in traffic between the EU and the Western Balkans and distributed for comments the draft Annex I of the ECAA Agreement, which lists new legislative requirements to be adopted by the associated parties.

A total of 20.2 million passengers traveled between the EU and the Western Balkans during 2024, representing an 18% increase compared to 2023, when 17 million passengers were recorded in this market. Kosovo ranked third among the countries with the highest traffic growth, following Albania (first) and Serbia (second).

In his address, Mr. Islami emphasized the unequal treatment of Kosovo compared to other parties regarding the rights deriving from the Agreement and called on the European Commission to ensure that Kosovo’s aeronautical authorities are included as soon as possible in relevant fora such as EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency), EUROCONTROL (European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation), and RASARAC (Regional Search and Rescue Advisory Committee) — in order to guarantee a safe and efficient European airspace.

On 16 October 2025, a bilateral meeting was held between the European Commission and the delegation of the Republic of Kosovo, during which Ms. Besnike Ukmata, the ECAA Focal Point for Kosovo, presented a comprehensive overview of developments in the civil aviation sector in Kosovo since the previous Joint Committee meeting, the level of implementation of the ECAA Agreement, and the main challenges faced in Kosovo civil aviation sector.

Ms. Ukmata explained that while Kosovo is progressively implementing the legislation required under Phase II of the Agreement, two issues identified by the European Commission to close Phase I remain open. The necessary improvements are included in the ongoing amendments to the Labour Law and the Civil Aviation Law.

Mr. Gzim Ocakoglu, from the EC Directorate for Aviation Agreements, who chaired both the plenary and bilateral meetings, informed the Kosovo delegation that the European Commission has requested EASA to initiate procedures for concluding Working Arrangements with the Kosovo CAA, similar to those established with other ECAA states.
The EASA representative attending the meeting stated that, according to EASA’s internal procedures, the signing of this arrangement is expected next year.

It was promised that the issue of EUROCONTROL will also be addressed, recognizing — as a matter of aviation safety — the importance for Kosovo’s Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) to establish direct operational and technical relations with this organization, specifically with its Network Manager.

No associated party of the ECAA Agreement has yet advanced to Phase II, mainly due to non-aviation legislative requirements included in Annex I. Therefore, it was agreed that the European Commission will prepare an Action Plan identifying the requirements to be fulfilled in order to move forward to Phase II of the Agreement.

The next Joint Committee meeting will take place next year in Albania.