EU: Continue of Talks on Kosovo, Serbia's Hand

In an email response, the European Union's Information Office told Voice of America that the European Union acts as a facilitator in the talks. It is up to the parties to agree on the content, speed, future steps, format and deadlines of negotiations. We are in constant contact with the chief negotiators on both sides and will continue our discussions in Brussels as soon as possible”, the European Union's Brussels office in response is said to.

Pristina and Belgrade technical teams were scheduled to meet this week to continue talks that would then pave the way for a meeting between the two presidents, Hashim Thaci and Aleksandar Vucic.

But, Pristina's negotiating team has expressed disappointment with European Union officials for setting topics in technical talks. Kosovo officials criticised the European Union for reportedly favouring topics that are the priority for Belgrade as is the issue of the Serb majority municipalities' Association. Authorities in Kosovo have demanded that the topic of the talks be energy -- an issue that continues to keep Kosovo blocked in integrating its network on regional and European energy routes.

Kosovo and Serbia are entering a final period of talks to reach a comprehensive and binding agreement on normalising relations between them.

But one of the challenges in Kosovo remains to create a general consensus, as any agreement reached would have to be ratified in the Kosovo Parliament.

The Kosovo government withdrew today from the agenda in the Kosovo Parliament, the platform for talks with Serbia, in order that, as it was told, is given space to find a broader political consensus.

This is done in order to open the time and space of building a broad national consensus and continuing further consultations”, said Minister Skender Recica, who read a letter of Prime Minister Haradinaj.

The withdrawal followed, opposition to opposition parties in parliament, which voiced opposition to the government platform in content, but also against the leading role of these talks by President Hashim Thaci.

Despite the party's objections to the way the talks are led, President Thaci will be able to hold future meetings, possibly within this month.

But the most controversial question is what compromises should be made by both countries so that this process can be completed.

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