EU gives Serbia until 2019 concerning Kosovo

The overall normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, in the form of a binding agreement, for the European Union constitutes urgent issues. Thus, according to Serbian media, it writes in the co-operative version of the EU Strategy for Enlargement, broadcasts Koha.net.

According to the newspaper “Vecernje Novosti”, which claims it has had this document, which would have to be formally presented in February, the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina has essential importance for European prospects for both Kosovo and Serbia and the wider region.

It is stressed that the EU's top representative will intensify its commitment to facilitating negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade in order to achieve normalisation of relations in the form of legally binding agreement.

According to the Strategy, the most distant by 2019, Belgrade must, among other things, meet the transitional criteria under the Head 35, dealing with Kosovo.

The document also figures this formula: “Serbia and Kosovo should, at the most distant to this stage, realise the sweeping normalisation of relations, which would have to pave the way for Kosovo's substantial progress on the path to European integration”, broadcast Koha.net.

All of this means that within less than two years Belgrade and Pristina would have to close all conflicting topics, which sound very ambitious, given the pace of the break-fast walk of the up-to-date dialogue.

“Novosti” quotes co-ordinators about this issue, under which it was not possible to reach the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina by the end of next year, but with “asisting” of influential states.

“Establishment of presidential negotiations enables everything to be completed within a year, but the condition on conditions will be for Pristina to fulfil all that is imposed on it, while in the first plan it is to establish the Serb Community of Communities. America will quote in the dynamics of the talks, but I do not expect it to be directly involved in dialogue, as well as Russia, while I expect dialogue will accelerate after the formation of the German government”, Faculty of Political Sciences professor Dragan Djukanovic said, under which normalisation can be achieved by the end of this year or at the beginning of 2019.

Former Serbian Ambassador Milovan Bozinovic shows the impression that power is mentally preparing the opinion for major decisions.

They don't want anyone to take them within their mandate, but this has to happen once. We are still far from a clear ending, but will it be enough two years will not depend as much on the Serbian and Albanian sides, but on the great powers. If Pristina “is illustrated” to fulfil obligations by the end of 2019 a deal will be reached”, Bozinovic considers.

The transitional criteria Serbia must meet in terms of Kosovo are reflected in the EU's joint position for chapter 35 from November 2015. It says they are the implementation of the first agreement from April 2013, meaning BKS (Our Association of Serbian municipalities), agreements for police, judiciary, as well as customs-related agreements, freedom of movement, the bridge in Mitrovica, recognition of diplomas and participation of Kosovo in regional initiatives. Also stressed, this first group of transitional criteria “will be updated according to the need”, broadcast Koha.net.