The European Union reiterated Thursday that no sanctions or restrictive measures have been imposed on Kosovo, emphasizing the need to respect the established framework and procedures within the EU.<\/p>\n
Instead, temporary measures and instruments are being employed to demonstrate the seriousness of the EU\u2019s efforts in reducing tensions.<\/p>\n
Peter Stano, the EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, made these remarks during a press conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussel.<\/p>\n
Stano reiterated that these measures are temporary and will be lifted from the agenda once Kosovo\u2019s Prime Minister Albin Kurti takes the necessary steps to deescalate tensions. He acknowledged that some of these measures were not easy for the EU to approve, but they were undertaken because \u201cit was observed that there were no steps towards de-escalation\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are instruments we use to demonstrate that the EU is serious when it says it expects the situation to de-escalate and reacts when such de-escalation does not occur,\u201d Stano stated.<\/p>\n
When asked about the EU\u2019s responsibility for not fulfilling its promises to ensure the participation of the Serb List in local elections, considering that Kosovo had agreed to postpone them and accepted the Annex on the implementation of the agreement during the Ohrid meeting, Stano replied that the focus should now be on de-escalation and that such developments are not observed on the ground.<\/p>\n
Regarding the Agreement and Annex reached in Ohrid, which President Vu\u010di\u0107 stated he would not fully implement, Stano stated that \u201cHigh Representative Borrell made a statement after the Ohrid meeting, with which both parties agreed, and it has never been withdrawn\u201d.<\/p>\n
Therefore, according to Stano, the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement and Annex remains an obligation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a clear link between the implementation of the Annex and the European path. If the parties\u2019 statements on whether they accept the agreement or not are followed by actions, this will be reflected in their integration process into the EU. If we are unable to break free from this circle of tensions, then the consequences will affect both parties,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The European Union has prepared initial measures, including sanctions against Kosovo due to the government\u2019s failure to respond to the immediate steps requested for de-escalating tensions in the north.<\/p>\n
Tensions in the north have escalated since May 26th<\/sup>, when the Kosovo Police assisted Albanian mayors of the municipalities of Zve\u010dan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavi\u0107 in taking control of municipal buildings, despite local residents\u2019 resistance.<\/p>\n Tensions reached their peak on May 29th<\/sup> when local Serbs clashed with NATO\u2019s Kosovo Force (KFOR) soldiers. Dozens of people were injured from both sides as a result of the clashes.<\/p>\n The Albanian mayors were elected on April 23rd<\/sup> in elections that were boycotted by Serbian parties and the local population.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The European Union reiterated Thursday that no sanctions or restrictive measures have been imposed on Kosovo, emphasizing the need to respect the established framework and procedures within the EU. Instead, temporary measures and instruments are being employed to demonstrate the seriousness of the EU\u2019s efforts in reducing tensions. Peter Stano, the EU Spokesperson for Foreign […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":55615,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[163],"tags":[1593,2471,308,2785,2774,243,151,383,2787,2203,2725,301,2047,2585,787],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n