Are Kosovo's new leading names in the EU?

Kosovo welcomes the new names that will lead the European Union. However, it is now seen in Pristina as a kind of scepticism, especially for the role it may have in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, the new chief of European diplomacy, Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, expected to be confirmed by the European Parliament. Josep Borrell, 72, is expected to return to the helm of EU foreign policy after serving as president of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2007.

Spain does not recognise Kosovo's independence, while Mr. Borrell himself, who succeeds Italian Federica Moghrini, will have to facilitate Kosovo-Serbia dialogue under an intermediate process from the European Union. Kosovo Foreign Affairs Minister Behxhet Pacolli says the Kosovo government does not believe EU foreign policy depends on the national origin of an EU country.

Hope EU policy towards Kosovo does not change

“We believe it does not depend on the national origin the role someone will play in the European Union, and the European Union's foreign policy depends on member states, on which most have recognised Kosovo. We expect that we will continue to strengthen relations with the EU even though the EU is undergoing difficult times. The key to our relations remains visa liberalisation, where we expect the EU to make the decision, continue dialogue with Serbia and the enlargement process will not stop”, Pacolli said.

The head of Kosovo diplomacy, however, in his reaction mentions Spain, the country from which Josep Borrell comes, which does not recognise Kosovo's independence and in some cases even. The example is the Sofia Summit for the Western Balkans, where Borell himself has refused to sit at a table where Kosovo's president was invited.

Kosovo is a country intended to have good relations with all countries, including Spain. We have urged the Spanish government to recognise Kosovo and support Kosovo's path towards international consolidation and European integration. Unfortunately, because of reasons that do not concern Kosovo, the Spanish position has been a tough line towards Kosovo. We are waiting and working with all actors and countries to strengthen Kosovo's relations with them”, says Behxhet Pacolli.

Serbia welcomes Borrell's arrival

In Serbia, the proposal for Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell to lead European diplomacy has been expected as good news and will therefore mediate Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. For Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq “The appointment of the Spaniard, Josep Borrell, as the EU's top representative for foreign policy and security is good news for us, but the situation remains difficult. The Kosovo issue is not resolved with one or two people on your side”, Vuciq said in Belgrade.

At the beginning of this year, Josep Borrell has been standing for a visit to Belgrade, where he said Spain has been against the unilateral “sideline of Kosovo independence” and that it “will not change the policy towards Serbia when it comes to Kosovo”. However, Borrell said, he has repeated to leaders in Belgrade that “alone through dialogue can be reached at the permanent solution to compromise on the Kosovo issue”. But a year ago Borrell has expressed itself against the exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia on ethnic lines.

Change of EU Axis

Political analysts in Pristina for the new ruling names of the European Union give different assessments. Amend Muja, analyst told DW, that the new <x0 considerations for key positions of EU institutions reflect change in the EU's influence axis. “Spain has replaced Italy along with France and Germany”.

“These countries have different goals in relation to the Balkans, enlargement policy and the Kosovo issue. The French stance against enlargement and the Spanish stance against Kosovo's independence drastically dims the EU's influence in general and in Pristina-Belgrade dialogue in particular”, says Armend Muja. According to him, for Serbia it is a positive thing because, Josep Borrell, has authority and is welcome in Serbia.

“Z. Borrell has authority in Serbia that can be positive. However, a representative from a country that does not recognise and strongly opposes Kosovo's independence will only further cloud Kosovo's political doubts about the EU. The EU's influence is almost unrealistic to impose a Kosovo-Serbia solution. This has contributed to the fluctuation of words regarding visa liberalisation. In this situation, Kosovo's voices in favour of the US will increase and suspicions in relation to the EU will deepen”, says Armen Munja.

Hopes at Ursula von der Leyen

Hopefully, the possible arrival at the helm of the European Commission, of a German, Ursula von Der Leyeen. The mija says she's a very adequate figure at this time. “Von Der Leyen is one of the relevant images at this time. She well recognises Kosovo and the importance of the Western alliance. Its role could be crucial to secure a bridge in the transatlantic evident rift, which also manifests itself in Kosovo”, analyst Muja says.

Kosovo-Serbia talks with EU mediation have been under way since 2011. A series of agreements have been signed, but most of them have not been implemented, only on paper. Finally, the EU and the US are seeking a comprehensive Kosovo-Serbia legally binding agreement so that both countries normalise reports. But the tax imposed by the Kosovo government on Serbian products, such as Pristina's counterage to Serbia's aggressive policy in relation to Kosovo, has caused the dialogue to cease now for more than a year/ DW.