European Union Special Envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue Miroslav Lajčák visits Pristina on Tuesday in an effort to reduce tensions in northern Kosovo.

Lajčák will then also stay in Serbia, attempting to persuade the parties to not only de-escalate the situation but also return to the dialogue.

In Pristina, it has been confirmed that Lajčák will meet with President Vjosa Osmani, on Tuesday afternoon.

He is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, a news the Prime Minister confirmed himself during a press conference this Tuesday.

“It is an integral part of the work of the Special Envoy to travel to meet partners on the ground,” said EU spokesperson Peter Stano a day earlier, commenting on Lajčák’s visit. He added that this visit to Kosovo is part of the work “to push the dialogue forward”.

The EU has consistently called on Kosovo and Serbia to take steps for immediate de-escalation of tensions and return to the dialogue for the normalization of relations, which Brussels mediates.

The European bloc has presented several requests to Kosovo regarding the situation in the north. Brussels is seeking the withdrawal of special units of the Kosovo Police from the vicinity of municipal buildings in the north, parallel to the withdrawal of Serbian protesters. Additionally, the European bloc is requesting the removal of newly appointed mayors from municipal buildings, the announcement of elections in the north, and a public commitment from Serbs to participate in the voting.

Due to the failure to meet these demands, the EU has begun implementing several punitive measures against Kosovo.

Since tensions escalated in the north at the end of May, there have been no dialogue meetings between Kosovo and Serbia.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić have held several “crisis meetings” with European officials in Brussels, but they have not had bilateral meetings. However, meetings with dialogue facilitators have concluded without concrete results.

Tensions in northern Kosovo, predominantly inhabited by Serbs, began when newly appointed Albanian mayors of Zvečan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavić entered municipal buildings under the escort of the Kosovo Police.

Serbs opposed this and have since been holding protests, demanding the removal of the new mayors and special police units.