The European Parliament has called on Kosovo and Serbia to reduce tensions at a time when the entire European continent is going through a sensitive situation.<\/p>\n
These calls were made by the president of the EP, Roberta Metsola, during her visit to Croatia to mark the 10th anniversary of Zagreb’s membership in the European Union.<\/p>\n
Metsola said that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a proof of how much the circumstances have changed today in Europe and what challenges the continent is facing.<\/p>\n
“We, as the European Parliament, have called on Serbia and Kosovo to de-escalate the situation. De-escalation is the key word here. We cannot see more violence at a time when our continent is so sensitive,” said Metsola.<\/p>\n
The EP leader, referring to Croatia’s role in the region, said that this country can help by playing an active role, but also by serving as an example of how EU enlargement is a success story.<\/p>\n
“The transformation of Croatia is an example that should be followed by others. Croatia can play a role in helping the countries of the Western Balkans region, not only with political support, but also with the experience it has during the process, through which it became a member”, said Metsola.<\/p>\n
“Our partners from the Western Balkans have been in the ‘waiting room’ for too long and this must change. Both sides must become serious and this process should move”, she added.<\/p>\n
The Speaker of the Parliament of Croatia, Gordan Jandrokovic, said that his country is ready to support the countries of the region in their journey towards the EU and to share Zagreb’s experience with them in this process.<\/p>\n
Since the end of May, the tensions in the north of Kosovo – inhabited by Serb majority – have increased, after the new Albanian mayors of the municipalities entered the municipal buildings with the assistance of the Kosovo Police.<\/p>\n
This was opposed by the local Serbs, who have been holding continuous protests in Zve\u00e7an, Leposavi\u0107 and Zubin Potok. On May 29, the protests de-escalated into clashes between local Serbs and members of the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR.<\/p>\n
Tensions grew even more on June 14, after the arrest of three Kosovo policemen by Serbian forces. Kosovo says the policemen were kidnapped inside its territory, but Serbia says they were arrested “deep” in Serbian territory.<\/p>\n
The United States, Germany and the United Kingdom have called on Serbia to release the policemen unconditionally. Meanwhile, the EU and the USA have submitted three requests to the authorities in Kosovo for the extension of the situation. But the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, responded by presenting his own five-point plan.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The European Parliament has called on Kosovo and Serbia to reduce tensions at a time when the entire European continent is going through a sensitive situation. These calls were made by the president of the EP, Roberta Metsola, during her visit to Croatia to mark the 10th anniversary of Zagreb’s membership in the European Union. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":55955,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[163,1803],"tags":[2048,300,243,151,2957,2958,2047],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n