Germany–Kosovo relations

The relations between Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Kosovo. When Kosovo declared independence in 2008, Germany was among the first countries to officially recognize it 20 February 2008 and establish diplomatic relations.  Germany has an embassy in Pristina since 27 February 2008. Kosovo has an embassy in Berlin and consulates in Frankfurt, Stuttgart ,Munich, Düsseldorf and Leipzig.

Before and during the Kosovo-Serbia 1998-99 conflict. Germany took in hundreds of thousands of refugees from Kosovo. Starting in 1999, Germany helped rebuild Kosovo, first with emergency relief efforts and then by beginning development cooperation.

Germany's role during the Kosovo War was a pivotal moment in this relationship. The decision to participate in NATO's Operation Allied Force in 1999 and later contribute to KFOR marked a historic shift for Germany it was the country's first major military deployment since World War II. This decision sparked significant debate within the Green Party, known for its pacifist roots, as well as within the federal government under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. Despite these internal discussions, Germany's involvement became a major milestone in its foreign and security policy, leading to a long-term commitment to Kosovo's security.

Over the past 25 years, Germany has been a key player in Kosovo's reconstruction, investing over €1 billion through various initiatives, particularly via GIZ. It has also maintained a Bundeswehr presence to help safeguard stability. Germany remains a steadfast supporter of Kosovo's path toward Euro-Atlantic integration and initiated the Berlin Process to provide high-level political support, foster regional cooperation, and ultimately prepare Western Balkan countries for EU membership.

Since 1999, the “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit“ (GIZ) GmbH has been working in Kosovo on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). GIZ helps and advises Kosovo in its efforts to achieve political stability and build a democracy based on the rule of law. As part of this, they support programs that boost the economy, improve the education system, create a decentralized public administration, and reduce youth unemployment. The main long-term goal is for Kosovo to join the European Union (EU).

The main goals of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo include economic development, creating jobs and improving welfare; enforcing the rule of law; pursuing the European agenda; and focusing on education, science, culture, youth, and sports. Germany and Kosovo are working together in several priority areas: Sustainable Economic Development: They aim to stabilize the economy, boost employment and competitiveness, promote regional economies, and enhance basic education and vocational training. Public Administration, Democracy, and Civil Society: This includes improving municipal services, reforming public finance systems, legal reforms, EU integration efforts, youth development, and land management. Energy: They're working on improving energy efficiency. These collaborations are all part of Kosovo's long-term goal of joining the European Union.

Germany is Kosovo's second most important trading partner, largest investor and also the largest bilateral donor in the field of development cooperation. Since 1999, Germany has provided over 660 million euros for technical and financial cooperation projects. Since April 2024, there has also been a climate and energy partnership with Kosovo, which aims to promote Kosovo's green transition and enable Kosovo's participation in international climate formats.

After recent negotiations, Germany has pledged an additional 90 million euros in support to Kosovo for 2024 and 2025, with 20 million euros given as grants. This is a significant increase from the 37 million euros provided in 2022 and 2023, showing that the cooperation between the two countries is growing stronger.

These funds will help Kosovo in its efforts to join the European Union. The money will be used for investments in the energy sector, especially in reducing carbon emissions, promoting sustainable economic development, providing training and creating jobs, and supporting local municipalities—particularly in waste management and environmental conservation.