The rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Viola von Cramon, called on the leadership in Kosovo to make progress in the dialogue with Serbia, including in the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, before the European bloc holds elections on June 9.
During a press conference in Pristina after a visit to Kosovo, von Cramon expressed concern about the support Kosovo may have in the European Parliament after the June elections. She mentioned that polls have shown an increase in right-wing parties in Europe, especially the far right.
“I think a new composition of the European Parliament may have an impact on Kosovo and other potential candidate countries for EU membership,” said the European lawmaker.
According to von Cramon, there has been progress in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, mediated by the EU. However, she stated that a “big mistake” was made last year as both parties were not required to sign the Agreement on the normalization path or its Implementation Annex.
Despite international pressure for the parties to implement the agreement, the European bloc has stated that it is not being implemented.
The normalization agreement, consisting of 11 points, includes provisions for a level of self-governance for the Serbian community in Kosovo and mutual recognition of state symbols, while requiring Pristina and Belgrade to implement all previous agreements reached during the dialogue.
The Basic Agreement reached in February of last year in Brussels, and subsequently its Implementation Annex reached in March in Ohrid, were not signed. However, the EU has stated that the agreement is legally binding for the parties.
“I think it was a mistake last year not to insist on the signing of the [Basic] Agreement and [Implementation] Annex by both sides. I think this has been a big mistake. I think if we delay the process, we may have problems because we have elections in the EU in the summer, and then some individuals may come into power who do not support Kosovo very much. Then we have Gaza, Ukraine, Taiwan, various problems, different problems, and I am worried that at the end of the day, no one cares about the dialogue,” said von Cramon.
The MEP stated that the Association of Serb-majority municipalities is a legitimate request, adding that Kosovo should come up with a proposal for its formation and ratify the agreement.
Kosovo and Serbia reached agreements on the Association in 2013 and later in 2015 on the principles for its establishment.
In 2015, the Constitutional Court of Kosovo found that the agreement is not fully in line with the Constitution.
Serbia insists that Kosovo implement the agreements reached, but the Kosovo Government has declared itself against a mono-ethnic association.
In October 2023, representatives of the EU, the US, Germany, France, and Italy presented to the parties, Kosovo and Serbia, a draft statute for the formation of the Association, which Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić accepted in principle.
