Kosovo borders issue: deep differences between Berlin, Brussels and Vienna

The idea put forward by Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Serbian Aleksandar Vuciq on the eve of territorial exchange talks is rejected by the government and opposition in Germany. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who stands on Saturday (08.09.2018) in Skopje to support the referendum on Macedonia's name, is expected to stress her position against exchanging territories.

She will discuss the issue next Sunday (16.09). In Berlin, as well as her Austrian counterpart, Sebastian Kurz, in his role as chairman of the EU, as German government spokesman Stephen Seibert indicated on Friday (07.09). Government spokesman Seibert refused to comment on Austria's position on the idea of exchanging territories, but stressed that the German stance has not changed.

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Europe's rank seems to have a difference in the matter. While Chancellor Merkel and Foreign Affairs Minister Heiko Maas have expressed themselves against changing borders in the Balkans, supportive voices are heard from Brussels over and over again. In an interview recently given the newspaper “Die Welt”, Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, has indicated that “at this moment is important to let the parties exchange this or other ideas under EU leadership”. The Austrian politician added that he is confident that the “governments in Serbia and Kosovo will be responsible because they know they can gain international support only if their agreement does not meet only regional needs, but brings more stability to the entire region”.

Hahn further said that a final agreement between Serbia and Kosovo would have a “fundamental meaning” for the Western Balkans, because the region would be calm only if all countries become EU members. The enlargement commissioner said further: “We continue to be for a multiethnic co-existence. Fears of changing borders would erupt an ethnic war does not coincide with demographic circumstances. This will not happen”, Commissioner Hahn quoted “Welt”.

Even European Parliament Foreign Commission Chairman David McAllister has not indicated against the idea of exchanging territories: the two negotiating parties should be given a space to develop and formulate their ideas. Once we have concrete proposals they must be put on the table and reviewed regardless of their outcome, taking into account all dangers”, the German MP in the European Parliament for “Die Welt” said, adding also that “the territorial integrity of the European countries has a high value of”.

While his colleague in Bundestag, Jürgen Hardt, spokesman for the parliamentary foreign affairs group, is of the opinion that changing borders does not bring peace to the region.

A lasting peace in the Balkans can only exist if people live in peace, even if they belong to different cultures and religions. I don't think that corrections of the borders are helping for peace”, the demographic deputy told Deutsche Welle. He also questioned the legitimacy of the plan. “These things parliament, government and population must agree to together. But at the moment it doesn't seem that way. In Kosovo there is massive resistance against this plan, even within the party, President”.