Speaking at the UN Security Council on 21 October, UK Minister Counsellor Jennifer MacNaughtan set out three priorities on Kosovo: broader international recognition, consolidation of stability in the north through lawful reintegration and accountability, and an updated, leaner UN mission that reflects present-day realities. The statement framed each as necessary for long‑term stability and Kosovo’s Euro‑Atlantic trajectory.
On recognition, the UK-describing itself as the first state to recognise Kosovo in 2008-urged remaining non‑recognisers to “join the majority”, arguing that recognition is foundational for durable peace and economic potential. The intervention came in a year that saw Kenya extend recognition in March, while five EU Member States (Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain) still withhold it.
London also commended the smooth conduct of recent municipal elections and pressed for swift progress towards forming a government with a clear parliamentary mandate. Kosovo held local polls on 12 October with run‑offs due on 9 November, against the backdrop of a parliamentary impasse following elections on 9 February.
The UK cautioned that recent rhetoric risks eroding confidence in core state bodies, specifically citing the Constitutional Court. It linked strong, inclusive institutions to Kosovo’s capacity to integrate internationally and deliver services for all communities, signalling that institutional resilience remains a test for partners and donors alike.
On northern Kosovo, the UK welcomed the return of Kosovo‑Serb mayors in the four Serb‑majority municipalities as a step back to fully representative local governance. It called for transitions to be managed strictly under the rule of law and for eligible Kosovo‑Serb officials to be reintegrated into central institutions without delay. Results from 12 October confirm Serb List victories across most Serb‑majority areas, with further contests proceeding to run‑offs.
Two years after the 23–24 September 2023 Banjska attack, the UK reiterated its call for Serbia to reduce tensions and ensure those responsible-explicitly including Milan Radoičić-face justice. Kosovo prosecutors have indicted 45 individuals over the incident, while accountability for the May 2023 assaults on KFOR personnel remains outstanding, with NATO reporting dozens of peacekeepers injured.
The statement urged Belgrade and Pristina to resolve outstanding disputes through the EU‑facilitated Dialogue and to fully implement prior commitments, including establishing an Association of Serb Majority Municipalities (ASM). These obligations derive from the 2013 Brussels Agreement and the 2023 Ohrid Implementation Annex, which the EU has tied to both parties’ accession processes.
Regional engagement was welcomed, with particular reference to the Berlin Process-chaired by the UK in 2025-which has focused ministerial attention on reconciliation, security and economic connectivity ahead of the Leaders’ Summit in London on 22 October.
On UN operations, the UK pressed for a strategic review of UNMIK’s role, responsibilities and funding, citing conditions that are “unrecognisable” from 1999 and calling for efficiencies via the Civilian Staffing Review. UN materials describe UNMIK’s current mandate under Security Council resolution 1244 as centred on political monitoring and inter‑community trust‑building, while UN budget documents flag persistent liquidity constraints across missions in 2025/26.
For policy teams, immediate watch points include timely government formation, orderly reintegration of officials in the north, concrete steps on an ASM model consistent with Kosovo’s constitutional framework, and whether Council members coalesce around a formal review of UNMIK. The UK’s Berlin Process chairmanship provides an additional venue to sustain dialogue and practical cooperation through the coming weeks.