Special Envoy of the European Union for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue Miroslav Lajčák met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade in an effort to de-escalate the situation in northern Kosovo.

Vučić stated in an Instagram post that he discussed the situation in Kosovo with the European envoy, and ways to reduce tensions on the ground, as well as the implementation of agreements reached so far within the EU-facilitated dialogue.

“I have called on the international community to engage more concretely in all these issues,” Vučić said.

Lajčák is staying in Belgrade one day after visiting Pristina, where he met with Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani, and Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Following the meeting with Kurti, Lajčák stated that there is an understanding to advance the EU’s requirements, but that “we still need to continue discussions on concrete steps”.

• EU’s Requirements for Kosovo and Serbia

Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, presented the European bloc’s requirements for Kosovo and Serbia regarding the escalation of the situation in the north on 22 June:

• Kosovo is requested to immediately suspend police operations in the vicinity of municipal buildings in the north and that the four mayors temporarily exercise their duties in alternative facilities;
• Serbia is requested to ensure that the protesters are withdrawn from the municipal buildings in parallel with the withdrawal of the Kosovo Police;
• Both countries are requested to announce snap local elections, as soon as possible, in the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo, with the unconditional participation of Kosovo Serbs in them.

In the past, Belgrade has played a key role in the participation of Serbs in elections organized in Kosovo.

Due to the non-fulfillment of the three stated requirements, the EU has started implementing several punitive measures against Kosovo since the end of June.

Lajčák did not comment on the punitive measures imposed by the European bloc against Kosovo, but stated that the EU has sanctions ready for Serbia as well.

“The EU has made it clear that it has sanctions ready for Serbia, and they will be implemented if member states decide that Serbia does not comply with the EU. This is a decision of the member states,” Lajčák said.

Since the end of May, Serbs have been protesting in Zvečan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavić, opposing the work of new Albanian mayors from municipal buildings. Local Serb residents are also demanding the withdrawal of special units of the Kosovo Police from the vicinity of the buildings.

The international community consistently calls on Kosovo and Serbia to take steps to immediately reduce tensions and hold new local elections in the north.