In the coming period, the Government of Kosovo should consider reversing the decision to ban the import of goods from Serbia, but it also expects the European Union to lift punitive measures against Pristina, according to Nenad Rašić, the Minister for Communities and Returns, in an interview with Radio Free Europe (RFE).

As explained by Rašić, the cancellation of the decision to ban the import of Serbian goods has been requested by Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, as well as “several international diplomats”. According to Rašić, Kurti’s response has been that he, as the Prime Minister, wishes for full de-escalation, but “the European Union should demonstrate some understanding”.

“This is one of the first steps we will take. Whether it will be included together in a package [lifting the import ban from Serbia and EU measures against Kosovo], I cannot tell you now, but it is certainly the first thing on our agenda,” Rašić states.

However, he did not specify the exact date or timeframe for these decisions to be made.

On June 14, the Government of Kosovo banned the entry of trucks with Serbian license plates and the import of goods originating from Serbia for “security” reasons. This decision was in response to the arrest of three Kosovo police officers by Serbian forces, who were subsequently released for protection. Meanwhile, entry of Serbian trucks is permitted, but not the circulation of Serbian goods.

Two months later, one of the outcomes of this decision is that there are almost no Serbian products in areas predominantly inhabited by Serbs in Kosovo, as reported by RFE at the end of July.

According to local residents in North Mitrovica and some businesspeople, due to the shortage, they have substituted Serbian products “against their will” with goods from other regional countries.

According to data from the Kosovo Statistical Agency in June 2022, Kosovo imported goods from Serbia worth about 34 million euros.

On the other hand, in late June, the EU imposed measures against Kosovo for not taking proper steps to ease tensions in northern Kosovo. Some of the measures taken against Kosovo include the temporary suspension of all working groups for the Stabilization and Association Agreement and the suspension of invitations for Kosovo’s participation in high-level meetings.

Subsequently, on July 10, Kosovo reached an agreement with the EU to de-escalate the situation in the north and has since taken several steps in that direction.

Tensions in northern Kosovo escalated at the end of May, as newly appointed leaders in Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic entered municipal buildings accompanied by Kosovo Police.

Local Serbs opposed this action and organized protests, which culminated in violence on May 29 in Zvecan. During the clashes, dozens of protesters and NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeepers were injured.

• Rašić: Strategic interests enable everyone to win

Nenad Rašić, the Minister for Communities and Returns, believes that the de-escalation process in northern Kosovo is heading in the right direction. He emphasizes that at this moment “everyone needs to be patient, tolerant, and reasonable”.

He points out that reversing the decision to ban the import of goods from Serbia is intended to further ease tensions, but he also stresses that Kosovo “should gain something”.

“You know how it is in politics, you give something, we give something. These are strategic interests that allow both parties to win, and I have no problem with that because diplomacy itself means ‘tolerating’ the other side to make reasonable decisions,” Rašić states.

The European Union did not respond to Radio Free Europe’s question about whether the lifting of measures against Kosovo is being considered.

Diplomatic sources of RFE within the EU have previously stated that the lifting of punitive measures depends on the implementation of agreements and obligations undertaken by Pristina.

EU spokesperson Peter Stano stated on August 10 that the Government of Kosovo must take more steps towards de-escalating the situation in the north, and the European bloc is ready to take actions against Serbia if it does not cooperate on this matter.

He emphasized that the EU’s measures depend on how Pristina and Belgrade approach de-escalation and the return to dialogue for the normalization of relations.