It is great to see you all tonight to celebrate the Day of German Unity together.

And there is more than one reason to celebrate this week:

The institutional stalemate is over.

I look forward to working with the newly elected President, the Government, and all institutions in Kosovo on an agenda that has not changed since I arrived here one year ago:

Germany wants to see Kosovo as a partner in Europe.

A partner in the European Union and its institutions.

I will get to that in a moment, but first, allow me to start with a very personal remark:

1. Thank you for the warm welcome

My first year here in Kosovo has been full of wonderful personal encounters and amazing experiences in your beautiful country.

I have been warmly welcomed by so many of you:

• In official meetings here in Pristina
• In mayors’ offices from Dragash to Leposavic
• In schools, universities and vocational training centers
• In businesses across the country
• At iftar tables
• And by the lone hiker in the Rugova mountains with whom we got into a conversation, and when we said we were from Germany, he picked up some flowers, handed them to me, and said, „welcome to Kosovo“.

I experienced first-hand how the relationship between our two countries is much deeper and closer than anything the work of an Embassy could ever achieve.

It seems that almost every family here have their own personal ties to Germany.

I have come to realize: We are, indeed, family.

And it has been an amazing experience every single day.

This leads me to my second point, our political agenda:

2. Kosovo’s European ambitions are more important than ever

After the resolution of the institutional crisis, I look forward to working with fresh energy both on our bilateral cooperation and on Kosovo’s European agenda.

By creating stable institutions, the country has now put itself in the position to again actively pursue that agenda.

That does not mean that the path forward will always be easy.

This process will still require difficult debates and decisions both within the country and with others.

I might add: My own country’s experience is a testimony to that.

And yet, I want to strongly encourage you to continue pursuing this ambitious goal.

I know there is impatience in Kosovo with a process that already seems to be taking too long.

And believe me, I share that impatience.

But in a sense, the goal of fully integrating Kosovo into European structures may be even more important today than it was when you embarked on this path.

Here, allow me zoom out for a minute and look at Europe a whole.

The political and security landscape on our continent is in flux in a way it has not been in many years.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is in its fifth year.

My own country and several others in Europe have been the target of so-called hybrid attacks.

On that topic, I want to thank Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca for his unequivocal statement of solidarity after the failed drone attack at Leipzig airport this summer.

In this environment, Kosovo can and should now no longer look inward, but rather see its European integration as an active contribution to peace and security in Europe.

And this brings me to my third point:

3. We need Kosovo as an active partner

I would like to see Kosovo step up and bring to the table its assets as a young, thriving state in Europe.

Earlier this year, you - we celebrated 18 years of independence of Kosovo.

In those 18 years, you have successfully built a state

• With a vibrant democracy
• Where the rule of law and the freedom of speech are guaranteed
• A state that offers special protection to those citizens of the republic that belong to non-majority communities
• And a state that is increasingly becoming a security provider in Europe.

Now, I believe, it is time for the country to build on this success.

Let me illustrate this.

I mentioned earlier my visits to high schools and universities where I had encounters with young students.

It struck me how many of them see their personal, individual future in Europe.

And that is encouraging.

But I believe the country’s ambition can be higher: I see all young Kosovars as future citizens of the European Union.

I see in them what we need in Europe and what I am hopeful for: An active Kosovo for a strong and peaceful Europe.

I am happy that the country is now set to move forward.

Germany will continue with you on this path as a friend and partner, as we have always done.