Former Greek finance minister and MeRA25 leader Yanis Varoufakis has sparked debate after stating that Kosovo made a strategic economic mistake by adopting the euro as its currency.
Speaking on RTV Dukagjini’s Debat Plus, Varoufakis said he understands Kosovo’s political and security motivations for seeking closer integration with the European Union, but argued that using another region’s currency creates long-term economic limitations. According to him, no economy can fully develop if it does not control its own monetary system.
Varoufakis said Kosovo should not have accepted the euro, arguing that the currency remains a structural challenge for the country even today. To support his point, he referenced Iceland, noting that despite being a small economy, it maintained its own national currency and monetary independence.
The former Greek minister also suggested that Kosovo’s financial institutions should explore digital currency solutions in the future. He warned that without macroeconomic balance and monetary sovereignty, Kosovo could face additional challenges if it eventually joins the European Union.
At the same time, Varoufakis acknowledged that Kosovo has made progress in fiscal policy and economic governance, but emphasized that limited control over money creation continues to restrict the country’s financial flexibility.