New dialogue without ending EU elections

The Kosovo negotiations process has stalled for months now. That is because the Serbian side has conditioned the continuation of dialogue with the removal of the tax, while Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj is continuing not to give up the tax decision.

Since November 9th 2018, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has not held a meeting with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq in Brussels. Consequently, it is estimated that this process will not continue until after the EU elections, expected to be held in May of this year.

Although Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has consistently confirmed that 2019 will be concluded with a final agreement with Serbia, he has not held a meeting with Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vuciq in the context of the final phase of the dialogue.

Rather, immediately after increasing the tax on Serbian products from 10 percent to the beginning of 100 percent, Serbia decided to stop sitting at the table with Kosovo leaders until the tariff was lifted.

Meanwhile, why, immediately after this condition, the international community put continued pressure on the Kosovo side for suspending the tax, such pressure has not been seen in recent weeks.

Political officials estimate that easing pressure has come as even internationals have already seen it impossible to have agreements this year, Zer writes.

That, according to them in May of this year, will hold elections within the EU, is also likely to have elections within the Serbian state. Meanwhile, opposition representatives remain optimistic that elections during 2019 will also be held in Kosovo. Therefore analysts estimate that meetings between the two sides in Brussels will not occur until September or October of this year.