How Macron can strengthen the EU in the Western Balkans
France has blocked progress on enlargement in the Western Balkans. In the Biden era, Emmanuel Macron should think again about bringing the region into the EU
Experts & Staff
Tefta Kelmendi
Deputy Director, Wider Europe
Areas of expertise
Post-conflict state building; security and protracted conflicts in the Western Balkans and eastern neighbourhood; Kosovo-Serbia conflict
Languages
Albanian, English, French, Italian
Biography
Tefta Kelmendi is the deputy director for the Wider Europe programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Prior to joining ECFR, Kelmendi worked as a diplomat at Embassy of Kosovo in France, where she was responsible for Kosovo’s relations with French-speaking countries and integration in international organisations. She has previous experience working with the Ministry of European Integration of Kosovo on human rights policies, with a particular focus on minority rights and integration. Kelmendi holds a Master’s degree in International Security from Sciences Po – Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA).
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In the media
I don’t think there will be another ‘big bang’, that wouldn’t work
Tefta Kelmendi on EU enlargement
Tefta Kelmendi on the great EU enlargement on May 1, 2004
Albin Kurti’s acts are becoming more and more nationalist-populist, which is dangerous for Kosovo’s stability
Tefta Kelmendi joined the Carrefour de l’Europe podcast to talk about the tensions in the Western Balkans
Logically, the mayors elected in April should resign so that elections can be held in mid-July
Tefta Kelmendi on the situation in Northern Kosovo
The status quo in northern Kosovo has created a security vacuum, making violence predictable
Tefta Kelmendi analyses the origins of recent violent clashes in northern Kosovo