The lifting of punitive measures imposed by the European Union on Kosovo will depend on the implementation of obligations undertaken by Pristina and other steps expected from the authorities in Kosovo to continue efforts to reduce tensions in the north, diplomatic sources said.
According to these sources, the steps taken by Kosovo “are steps in the right direction”, but the EU expects to see further progress.
“Measures against Kosovo were not imposed lightly; they are reversible and will not last longer than necessary. However, their withdrawal requires evidence that Kosovo is taking all the steps that were requested of it and for which these measures were imposed,” said a source in the EU to Radio Free Europe.
Due to the failure to fulfill the requirements presented by the European bloc, Brussels began implementing several punitive measures against Kosovo at the end of June.
The measures being implemented by the EU against Kosovo include: the temporary suspension of the work of the bodies created based on the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), Kosovo’s exclusion from high-level meetings and the suspension of bilateral visits, except those focused on addressing the crisis in northern Kosovo within the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue.
Other measures also include the suspension of programming funds for Kosovo under IPA 2024 (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance), and Kosovo’s proposals within the framework of the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans were not submitted for review by the board on June 29 and 30.
However, on July 10, Kosovo and the EU reached an agreement on the initial steps toward deescalating the situation in northern Kosovo, which is predominantly populated by Serbs.
Even within the EU, direct answers to Radio Free Europe’s question about whether the agreement reached with Kosovo on de-escalating the situation in the northern part of the country will lead to the lifting of punitive measures imposed by Brussels on Pristina were not given.
A spokesperson for the EU told RFE, “We have nothing to add to what the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has said in a Twitter post when he welcomed Kosovo’s commitment and expects further positive steps from Kosovo to continue progress in this direction”.
Borrell stated on July 12 that the work with Kosovo and Serbia will continue within the framework of the dialogue for the normalization of relations.
“The process continues,” said the spokesperson, recalling that the EU Special Representative for the dialogue Miroslav Lajčák, and Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, agreed on the priority first steps in three areas requested by the EU.
“This includes an immediate reduction in the presence of police in and around municipal buildings, regular joint security assessments with EULEX and KFOR as needed, considering the possibility of further reducing the presence, refraining from any actions that could escalate the situation, and encouraging extraordinary elections, as well as creating a legal basis for elections,” the spokesperson said.
He also confirmed that Lajčák has invited the chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia to a meeting next week to continue discussions on the implementation of the Agreement towards the normalization of relations.
“We expect parties to agree on the next steps that will enable the full implementation of the agreement without further delays,” the spokesperson said.
Tensions in the north escalated at the end of May when ethnic Albanian mayors in the north entered municipal buildings, escorted by the police. Serbs in the north have protested, demanding the withdrawal of the mayors and special units of the Kosovo Police.
