The European Union has called on Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia President Aleksandar Vučić to accept the invitation to participate in the crisis meeting in Brussel without setting any conditions.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has invited Kurti and Vučić to a meeting in Brussel this week amidst increased tensions between the two states.
The EU has warned that disregarding this invitation could have consequences for the parties involved.
The President of Serbia has already refused to meet with Kurti, while the latter has not yet decided whether to participate in the Brussel meeting.
On June 18, Vučić stated in Belgrade that he would not meet with Kurti. However, he said that he would decide whether to “technically attend that meeting” and added that it would be a strategic decision for which he would inform the public.
Meanwhile, on June 19, Kurti stated that he is waiting for the Chief of the Kosovo Liaison Office in Belgrade to meet with the Kosovo police officers, and after understanding their situation, he will decide whether to accept Borrell’s invitation for a meeting.
EU Spokesperson Peter Stano stated that Borrell has invited the two leaders to meet in Brussels “to find a way out of the crisis we are witnessing and to return to the path of dialogue”.
“The date has not been set yet because the parties have not confirmed their participation. Borrell expects a more responsible behavior from the two leaders. The EU expects them to come without conditions. The European bloc is following the situation to see if the parties are ready to find a solution,” said Stano during a press conference.
He added that on Monday, during the meeting of EU ministers, the issue of tensions between Kosovo and Serbia will be on the agenda.
“Borrell’s invitation is an offer and an opportunity for them to show that they can be constructive after all. It is not an invitation to satisfy Brussel but is for the need to reduce tensions and for the European future of the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia. No one else but Vučić and Kurti are responsible for this,” said Stano.
Since late May, tensions in northern Kosovo have increased after Albanian mayors of municipalities in the north entered municipal buildings with the assistance of the Kosovo Police, amid opposition from local Serbs.
Tensions escalated on May 29 when Serbian protesters clashed with troops from the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, in Zvečan. Dozens of people from both sides were injured in the clashes.
On June 14, tensions between Kosovo and Serbia further worsened after the arrest of three Kosovo police officials. Serbia claimed that they were arrested “deep” within its territory, but Kosovo stated that they were patrolling in the territory of Kosovo near the border with Serbia in Leposavić.
Stano was also asked about the current situation and the fate of the three Kosovo police officers in pretrial detention in Serbia. He stated that “fortunately, there has been no new escalation on the ground, but we have not yet seen any concrete steps for de-escalation. Therefore, we have invited both leaders to Brussel to work on reducing tensions and concrete steps”.
“So far, we have not heard any concrete responses, except for their unconstructive public statements,” Stano said.
“At this moment, we are focusing on Borrell’s call for the leaders to come to Brussels. Depending on how this meeting goes, we will then see how to proceed. The actions of both parties will also be reflected in the discussion among the ministers and then in their European path,” Stano concluded.
The United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany have called on Serbia to immediately release the three Kosovo police officers.
