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The unification of Albania and Kosovo is a political idea, revived since Kosovo declared independence in 2008.
This idea has been brought into connection with irredentist concept Greater Albania. About 95% of Kosovans are ethnic Albanians. Although not politically articulated, the unification could become a reality as a result of unification of education, which could generate a demand for political unification.
Polls supporting unification of Kosovo with Albania notwithstanding, the goal of Albanian politicians has been entrance into NATO and the EU, rather than national unification. Christian Catholic and Orthodox Albanians fear that any possible unification of Balkan areas that bring sizable numbers of Muslims into the new state may lead to an increasing "Muslimization" of Albania.
Unification in the eyes of many has already been achieved. Kosovo is predominately Albanian, and with the Republic of Albania shares some common administrative sectors such as education, policing, and foreign policy. Culture, heritage and trade have also been greatly unified between the two which also share an open border.
History
During the 1981 protests in Kosovo Yugoslavia feared a potential unification of Kosovo to Albania. In early 1990s Albanian politicians' statements were contradictory in regards.
Political activist Ukshin Hoti, founder of the Party of Albanian National Union, eventually killed by Serbian police in 1999, was a very vocal supporter of the unification of Kosovo with Albania.
In 2001 Arben Imami, a relevant Albanian politician, stated that unification of Kosovo with Albania should be a party goal, but was quickly criticized by his own party.
The Ahtisaari Plan conditioned Kosovo's independence by adopting a multiethnic “Kosovar,” rather than an Albanian identity. Still, Gallup surveys revealed that 75% of Kosovo Albanians would prefer to live unified with Albania in a single country. The same support was seen in Albania where 68% of the citizens of Albania preferred a unification of Albania with Kosovo.
In 2017 some mainstream Albanian politicians such as Ben Blushi have come out run support of unification. In Kosovo, the largest opposition Vetëvendosje supports full Albanian unification, as does Ramush Haradinaj and his Future Alliance party.