Politics, Europe

EU special envoy in Kosovo to discuss implementation of deal with Serbia

Miroslav Lajcak meets Kosovo leaders ahead of next round of dialogue in North Macedonia

Talha Ozturk  | 10.03.2023 - Update : 10.03.2023
EU special envoy in Kosovo to discuss implementation of deal with Serbia

BELGRADE, Serbia

The EU's special envoy for dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo on Thursday visited Kosovo’s capital Pristina as part of efforts to implement a recent agreement on normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

“We have to know the steps, and time frame or it will be politically but not formally binding. The purpose of my visit was to discuss the implementation of the document with (Prime Minister Albin) Kurti,” Lajcak said.

He held separate meetings with Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

“My meeting with Prime Minister Kurti met my expectations in this context. To understand how Serbia also sees the implementation of the agreement, I will be in Belgrade on Monday and Tuesday for the same purpose,” Lajcak said.

The EU announced on Feb. 27 that Serbia and Kosovo had agreed to sign a proposal to normalize ties after a meeting between Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The next round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will be held on March 18 in North Macedonia.

Serbia-Kosovo dialogue

Launched in 2011, the EU-led Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue aims to find a mutually agreeable solution for disputes in the framework of a legally binding agreement.

Following a flareup in border tensions last summer, Lajcak presented the bloc’s latest proposal on normalizing relations in September.

The EU requires Kosovo and Serbia to reach a final agreement and resolve disputes to progress in their integration into the bloc.

Most UN member states, including the US, UK, France, Germany and Türkiye, recognized Kosovo as a country separate after it declared independence from Serbia 15 years ago.

Serbia, though, continues to regard it as its territory.

Vucic said in October that Germany and France had offered to expedite Serbia’s EU membership process if it recognized Kosovo’s independence and allowed it to become a member of international organizations.

According to the leaked proposal, Kosovo should, for its part, allow the establishment of a union of Serbian municipalities in the north, where many ethnic Serbs live.

EU officials hope to complete negotiations on the plan this spring, with Brussels facilitating the talks.

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