Six Kosovo reciprocity measures against Serbia

The 2011 Brussels Agreement for Free Movement, under the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, with the European Union's mediation and the Free Trade Agreement with Western Balkan countries known in the CEFTA cut, has not always been respected by these states.

This has prompted Kosovo governments sometimes to take reciprocal measures or impose customs duties on goods produced in Serbia.

First measure of reciprocity, 2011

A reciprocity measure against Serbia, Kosovo had applied it in July 2011.

This reciprocity measure at the time was taken by former Trade and Industry Minister Mimoza Kusari-Lila, since Serbia for three years after Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence had blocked goods from Kosovo, due to the change of seals from UNMIK to those of the Republic of Kosovo.

Products to this seal, from December 2008, are not even allowed to pass through the state of Serbia, since this state does not recognise Kosovo's independence. The principle of reciprocity began to apply at all border points.

But, the situation was tense more in the northern part of Kosovo, the region that was inhabited by the Serb majority -- namely, at border points 1 and 31, located in Jarinje and Brnjak.

These dots have even been burned by local Serbs in 2008, as revenge against Kosovo's declaration of independence. The reciprocity move did not last more than 40 days, as during talks held in Brussels, between the Kosovo and Serbian sides, agreements on mutual recognition of seals had been reached.

2016: Reciprocity in School Texts

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, led by Arsim Bajrami, in 2016, also imposed reciprocity measures on Serbia regarding Serbian-language textbooks.

Serbian authorities at the time had turned back Kosovo's textbooks, preventing them from being sent to predominantly Albanian municipalities in the Presevo Valley.

Reciprocity in Transport of Oil and Gas

The reciprocity measure against Serbia in March 2016, Kosovo had decided on transporting oil and gas, as Serbian authorities refused certificates (known as ADR) issued by Kosovo authorities for drivers and vehicles carrying dangerous matter.

The year 2018: Customs Tax 100 percent

In 2018, the then-led Kosovo government by former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj had imposed customs duties, originally 10 and then 100 percent, on goods imported from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Products from Kosovo and various countries of the region and the EU, posted on shelves of a food store in Pristina.

Before the customs tax was imposed, Serbia was the largest exporter of products in Kosovo. This state, before the tax, has exported goods to Kosovo in a day worth about 1.2m euros or about 450m euros within a year.

The tax has influenced dialogue on normalising reports between Kosovo and Serbia to be halted, and for that reason, against the tax, the United States of America and the European Union had been declared.

Converting the Tax to reciprocity in 2020

In 2020, the new government led by Albin Kurti was established in Kosovo. On changing government, the tax turned into reciprocity with Serbia.

On March 31st 2020, incumbent Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti decided that the appointments of phytosanitary and veterinarian certificates, as well as other lead documents, should be used in line with Kosovo's Constitution and legislation in power. This decision prompted opposition in Serbia, the United States of America and the European Union.

The government Kurti 1 fell after 51 days in power, when the Democratic League of Kosovo with no-confidence motions brought down the government. On 3 June 2020, the new Kosovo government, led by Avdullah Hoti, is established. Hoti abolished the decision on reciprocity in the first days of his work, stating that thus obstacles to the dialogue process for normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia were removed.

In Kosovo on February 14th, 2021, early parliamentary elections were held, and on March 22nd the Parliament was dedicated, and the same day, the new Kosovo government was elected in charge of Albin Kurti by the Vetevendosje Movement.

With the government taking over, Albin Kurti had said that establishing reciprocity with Serbia would be among the first things his government will do, while dialogue with Serbia is not part of its priorities.

Reciprocity for auto plates

Authorities in Kosovo on September 20, 2021, began applying reciprocity measures for vehicle plates from Serbia. According to the Kosovo Government's decision, cars entering Serbia should be equipped with temporary license plates at Kosovo border crossings.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti shows temporary car plates in Kosovo and Serbia during a parliamentary session in Pristina, 20 September 2021.

Due to this move, local Serbs blocked two national roads north of the country.

Both roads leading to the Jarinje and Brnjak border points are being kept blocked by dozens of trucks and cars deployed by Serb protesters.