EP: Road to agreement between Kosovo, Serbia is full of obstacles

The reasons for this are “from the internal political situation on both sides, to unclear and unstable expectations from the agreement to regulate relations”, said the text of the EP's analytical body, in which the Beta news agency had access.

It is also said that the lack of progress in these negotiations is the consequence of the “lack of harmonisation and communication between the United States and the European Union”.

“While the final goal for Kosovo is clear, and it is for Serbia to recognise the citizenship of Kosovo, Serbia interprets normalisation of relations as” economic adjustment “and therefore there is very little room to go beyond that”, the EP analysis says.

It is suggested that “for Serbia, recognition of Kosovo's independence is a red line that would be difficult to pass”.

“at the same time, Serbia emphasises that the whole process should remain within the framework defined by the Serbian constitution, under which Kosovo is an integral part of Serbian territory, as well as within UN Security Council Resolution 1244”, writes EP analysts, noting that constitutional changes were needed a referendum.

They especially stress that “the most sensitive issue ʹ forming association shows that challenges are deeply rooted in history and have a much broader regional context”.

The EP text estimated that the support the Constitutional Court of Kosovo should provide for association, “ruled out fears that association could turn into an autonomous area over which the central government (of Kosovo) would have no real control of”.

“In order for Kosovo to become a member of UN, it is necessary for the UN Security Council to vote for it and get the consent of two-thirds of the members of the UN General Assembly, which Kosovo has not until now,” is said in an internal EP letter.

While praising that some progress has been made in EU-mediated negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina within the framework of the Brussels Agreement, the analysis notes that “debat in the EU is moving from enlargement to the deeper rejection of the new members' accession strengthens the strictest stance on enlargement in some Union members. ”

The document says that “faced with a deadlock in negotiations with Belgrade, Pristina is also seeking to establish closer economic and political ties with Albania”.

It is also said that “memory and painful wounds are still open in Serbia, and some public opinion polls show 81 per cent of Serbs oppose recognising Kosovo's independence, even if it would speed up (Serbia's) accession to the EU”.

Serbia is also seeking to say whether EU membership is a realistic goal,” completes internal document The EP, adding that Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq asked “whether the European Union wants to see Serbia as part of it or not ..., although we don't see an alternative to that route, although we have been on it for 20 years, that Turkey is still waiting so long for “.