Estonia and Kosovo

Bilateral relations

Estonia recognised Kosovo’s independence on 21 February 2008, making it the 12th country to do so. Diplomatic ties were established between Estonia and Kosovo on 24 April 2008 in Tallinn.

Estonia’s ambassador to Kosovo is Eve-Külli Kala, who presented her credentials on 29 March 2011. The ambassador resides in Vienna. Kosovo’s first ambassador to Estonia is Ilir Dugolli, who presented his credentials on 6 October 2011 and resides in Brussels.

Visits

Interparliamentary Co-operation

An Estonia-Kosovo parliamentary group was created on 26 February 2008. The chairman of the group was Hannes Astok. Soon after the creation of the group, it made a visit to Kosovo at the end of February and beginning of March of 2008. From 3-6 December 2008, a delegation of members of the Kosovo Assembly visited Estonia. From 16-19 May 2010 a delegation of the Kosovo Assembly’s environmental commission visited Estonia. In the current membership of the Riigikogu an Estonia-Kosovo parliamentary group has not been formed.

Economic Relations

Trade between Estonia and Kosovo is very modest. In 2011 Kosovo ranked as Estonia’s 167^th trade partner. Goods valuing 34 thousand euros were exported to Kosovo and goods totalling 19 thousand euros in value were imported from Kosovo. Primary articles of export were optical equipment and imports were primarily transportation vehicles.

According to data from the Bank of Estonia, investments have not been made between Kosovo and Estonia in the years 2008-2012.

Development Co-operation

• In the first half of 2011 the joint merger project of Estonia and Finland began, through which they are advising Kosovo on the creation of a school of security sciences. The Estonian Academy of Security Sciences is participating on Estonia’s behalf
• Between 2009 and November 2011, the Foreign Ministry supported the international civilian mission in Kosovo with 209 778 euros
•  In March 2011 Kosovar NGOs (Kosovar Civil Society Foundation, KCSF, and EU Information Office) were in Estonia for a study visit. The goal of the visit was to gather information on Estonia’s experience with acceding to the EU.
• Between 2008 and 2010 six students from Kosovo participated in master’s studies at the Estonian University of Life Sciences within the framework of the EU project “Support to European Integration”.
• From 1-6 July 2009 a group of 7 diplomats from Kosovo attended an international relations training course organised by the Estonian School of Diplomacy and the Foreign Ministry.
• A group of 27 municipal leaders and officials were in Estonia from 1-8 March 2009 for an e-government and information and communication technology-related training visit.
• Within the framework of the Kosovo Donors’ Conference on 11 July 2008, Estonia decided to donate 1 million US dollars to the development of Kosovo.
• From 15-22 August 2008, a 20-member delegation from Kosovo (mostly made up of officials from ministries, including many deputy ministers) attended a training on information and communication technology and e-governing in Estonia organised by the e-Governance Academy.

Defence Co-operation

Participation in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo

Estonia participates in the EU rule of law mission EULEX with four experts. The Estonian Defence Forces have participated in various peacekeeping missions in Kosovo since 1999. The termination of the Defence Forces’ Kosovo mission took place during the visit of Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo on 8 February 2010. However, Estonia continues to contribute to the KFOR mission with one Estonian staff officer.

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