EU calls on Kosovo to act for regional cooperation

BELGRADE, Serbia

European Union on Monday called on Kosovo to "remove barriers for regional cooperation" as the country decided to increase customs duties for imports from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In a Twitter post, Johannes Hahn, the European commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, said he has discussed with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic the Kosovo’s decision.

He noted that the decision is not in line with the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and the EU Partnership and Stability Agreement.

Meanwhile, Vucic warned that the Kosovo authorities' decision could lead to destabilization of the entire region.

Last month, the Kosovo parliament passed a bill to increase customs duties to 100 percent on imports from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, the countries in the region which do not recognize Kosovo's independence.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but Belgrade insists the country remains part of Serbia. Since then, tensions have remained between Kosovo’s ethnic-Albanian majority and a small Serb minority in the north.

It is recognized by over 100 countries, including the U.S., Britain, France, Germany and Turkey.

Serbia, Russia and China are among the countries which have not yet recognized Kosovo’s independence.