Franco-German proposal, Maliqi: Neither Kosovo nor Serbia soon joins the EU

But, according to him, this proposal does not seem to be fully detailed, but provides a rough framework of what is possible.

The “Document is more like a guide, as a suggestion, and the parties are getting caught for its elements, for areas that seem useful at this moment for strategic communication. Kosovo, I believe, probably sees room for optimism, for the fact that in this formula, it is not provided in all likelihood direct recognition, but also lowers the pressure for Kosovo to make any major compromises regarding the Association [of Serb majority municipalities]. So maybe there [in the document] Kosovo sees a kind of space for an agreement that could be more acceptable”, Maliqi has said of the REL.

Also, Maliqi estimates that in the current international consortium, Serbia has no space to resist pressure from the West, without enough support from Russia, which has a post-invasive position in Ukraine. As for Kosovo, it says it is impossible to move forward in European integrations and international organisations without Western support.

“The main challenge of this international proposal is that it is based on many assumptions and hypothetical circumstances, which especially involve the guarantees of mediators. So, under no circumstances, especially like today, Kosovo cannot be guaranteed the seating in the UN, because that is not the issue only of Serbia, but there is Russia and China. Meanwhile, Serbia cannot guarantee acceleration of EU accession, because for EU accession it is not Kosovo's only condition, but it also has to do with government standards and reforms”, Maliqi estimates.

According to him, Kurt and Vuciqi have reached the proposal through advisers Jens Plotner and Emmanuel Bonne, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron.