The European Union has characterized the recent meetings in Brussels between Miroslav Lajčák, the High Representative for the Dialogue, and the chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia, Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petković, as challenging, with no immediate results achieved.
A spokesperson for the EU disclosed this information in response to Radio Free Europe, referring to the recent statement by Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi. During a press conference in Pristina on Monday, Bislimi stated that Kosovo should not hold elections in the northern part of the country until the punitive measures imposed by the European Union are lifted.
Although the EU spokesperson refrained from commenting on Bislimi’s statements, the EU reiterated its call for Kosovo to proceed with the elections and urged Serbs living in the four northern municipalities to participate in the electoral process.
“We do not engage in commenting on specific remarks. However, we take this opportunity to reiterate that the EU expects both parties to implement the requirements outlined in the statement of the 27 EU member states on June 3, 2023. This includes the prompt declaration and comprehensive organization of snap elections in all four Serbian municipalities in the north. The EU also anticipates the active participation of Kosovo’s Serbs in these elections,” stated the EU response.
On July 10, the Government of Kosovo agreed to issue a public statement supporting the conduct of snap elections in the four northern municipalities after the summer season.
As per the agreement reached with the EU, Kosovo is committed to providing the necessary legal framework to enable the smooth organization of the elections.
Previously Bislimi expressed his anticipation for the EU’s announcement regarding the lifting of sanctions following the agreement between Kosovo and the EU in Bratislava, as well as the withdrawal of 25% of police forces from municipal buildings in the four northern municipalities.
However, diplomatic sources within the EU informed Radio Free Europe that the removal of punitive measures against Kosovo will be contingent on the implementation of the obligations undertaken by Pristina and the fulfillment of other expectations by the authorities in Kosovo to de-escalate tensions in the north.
The EU’s punitive measures against Kosovo, attributing it as responsible for escalating the situation in the northern region, include: temporary suspension of the bodies created under the Stabilization and Association Agreement, non-participation of Kosovo in high-level meetings, and suspension of bilateral visits, except for those focused on addressing the crisis in the north within the EU-facilitated dialogue.
Other measures encompass the suspension of funding programming for Kosovo under IPA 2024 (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance). Proposals submitted by Kosovo under the Western Balkans Investment Framework have not been submitted for review by the board on June 29 and 30.
Regarding last week’s meetings, the EU spokesperson expressed expectations for both parties to reflect on the issues discussed and provide assessments. Simultaneously, the parties were urged to refrain from unilateral actions that could exacerbate tensions.
“Lajčák, the EU’s Special Envoy, called negotiators from Kosovo and Serbia last week to address several items on the dialogue’s agenda, supported by the EU. These items encompass the implementation of the new agreement for the normalization of relations, energy matters, the implementation of the declaration on missing persons, de-escalation in the north of Kosovo, organization of extraordinary elections, and trade-related concerns,” said the spokesperson.
On July 19, the chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia met separately with Lajčák in Brussels to discuss “a comprehensive list of dialogue issues, starting with the implementation of the February 27 agreement and de-escalation”.
“These meetings were arduous and lengthy, with no immediate results. Nevertheless, the parties were encouraged to reflect and provide their assessments on the issues raised during the agenda,” the spokesperson added, while emphasizing that the discussions will continue.
“The dialogue will persist, and the EU’s facilitator will convene another meeting shortly. The EU expects both parties to fulfill their dialogue obligations and EU’s de-escalation requirements without further delay, actively engage in the process, and refrain from actions that may lead to further escalations,” stated the EU spokesperson.
The situation in northern Kosovo has worsened due to local Serbs in Zvecan, Leposavic, and Zubin Potok opposing the entry of newly elected Albanian mayors into municipal buildings, with the assistance of the Kosovo Police.
The elected mayors secured their mandates in the April elections, which were boycotted by the Serbs.
