EU: Working on Finding a Targa Solution

So declared Peter Stano to the media, the EU spokesperson for foreign and security issues.

“sometimes in the past we have said it is of exceptional importance to prevent any tension, which can lead to escalation of the situation. What Serbia and Kosovo need at least at the moment is to have more tensions. They need more progress in order to move the dialogue forward. As we have said, [they] should work towards the comprehensive agreement in the dialogue on normalisation of reports. We are working with our partners, not only us as the EU, but also other partners, as well as the Kosovo and Serbian authorities, in order to prevent any sense of escalation of the situation”, Stano said on October 27th.

This EU stance comes several hours after the Serbian List of Serbs in Kosovo main party, and Serbia warned of the establishment of barricades, if Kosovo, after 31 October, would seize Serb license plates or vehicles.

The Kosovo government has said that from September 1st through October 31st, Serbian citizens who have cars with license plates issued by Serbia ʹ which Pristina considers illegal should convert to the RKS-RS.

After October 31st, Kosovo has declared that these cars estimated to be close to 10,000 will not be allowed to circulate on state territory, nor cross the border.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said on October 27th that when it comes to license plates, Kosovo is respecting the law and Sebia is threatening by illegal means.

According to EU spokesman Stano, tensions would be contrary to people's interests and both sides -- Kosovo and Serbia.

“They have expressed as a priority approach to the EU and to create tensions, with the ability to resolve issues, not talking to each other, with no willingness to compromise, you do not achieve these goals and harm your people. So our message is the same, we need to be constructive and find solutions to all open issues and refrain from unilateral actions that lead to escalation. We need the opposite, for lowering tensions and progress”, the European Union spokesman has indicated.

Photograph taken during the meeting in Belgrade between representatives of the Serbian List and the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vuciq.

Responding to the question of whether the EU has already agreed that there will be no extension of the deadline for replacing the license plates, this spokesman has said the EU is continuing to work in this direction and that there are still a few days left to do so.

We do not give up and are always engaged in the name of people on the ground. The EU remains committed, and this is the role of High Representative Josep Borrell and EU envoy for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak. They are intensively engaged in seeking solutions to the issue, for which there has been no solution so far. But we still have a few more days until October 31. We are working with our partners to find solutions and prevent the situation, in which we would have unnecessary new passage, or, God forbid, the explosion of the” situation, the EU spokesman said.

The EU has reiterated the position around the license plates on Thursday as well, saying on one side that Kosovo has a legitimate right to its decision to change them, but also demanding extending the deadline for an additional ten months.

The European Union has always been clear. Kosovo's decision to change registration signs is legitimate. However, under the agreement on freedom of movement, reached in 2011 and 2016, it is important that sufficient time be provided for the implementation of this plan, and that it is prepared and implemented in close consultation with citizens to whom it has influence, and in line with good European practices”, Stano stressed.

<x) Therefore, we have, under this process, recommended to the Government of Kosovo to set a 12-month deadline for reregisteration. According to the same logic, we now ask the Government of Kosovo to extend its deadline for 10 months,”, the European Union's response reported.

According to the EU spokesman, such a postponement would enable a more inclusive information campaign and consultations with the respective citizens. This would enable Kosovo to facilitate Kosovo Serbs in the north getting ID cards and Kosovo patents.

“Whatever escalation of tensions and potential violence in northern Kosovo must be avoided. This has particular significance in the current geopolitical context, in the context of maintaining stability in the region”, the EU says.

The EU, but the United States has also asked Kosovo to extend the deadline for reregistering. Washington's envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, has declared on October 26th that Pristina has not yet responded to that request. / REL/