Adds pressure to Kurt from the states of QUINT: Urged to allow Kosovo Serbs to vote in referendum

“We call on the Kosovo government to allow Serbs in Kosovo to exercise their right to vote in elections and election processes in line with this established practice of”, the joint statement said.

On the other hand, Kosovo and Serbian governments -- “ -- are urged to refrain from actions and rhetoric that raise tensions and engage constructively in EU-extensive dialogue. ”

The “call on the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from actions and rhetoric that increase tensions and engage constructively in EU facilitated dialogue. It is important that both governments make progress towards a comprehensive agreement opening the EU perspective and boost regional stability”, the statement said.

Full statement:

France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union welcome Serbia's January 16th national referendum on constitutional changes as a key step to strengthening the independence of the judiciary and boosting the transparency and effectiveness of institutions of rule of law. We believe these reforms are a step towards bringing Serbia closer to European standards and will support Serbia's EU membership process.

We have encouraged all citizens of Serbia to participate in the referendum and believe it is important that voters rightly vote can vote in elections and referenda. We regret that the Kosovo government has not allowed the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSBE) to collect voter ballot ballots that live in Kosovo for the upcoming referendum, in line with past practice. We call on the Kosovo government to allow Serbs in Kosovo to exercise their right to vote in elections and election processes in line with this established practice.

We call on the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from actions and rhetoric that raise tensions and engage constructively in EU-enlightened dialogue. It is important that both governments make progress towards a comprehensive agreement opening the EU perspective and boost regional stability.