The EU makes date for the agreement between Kosovo and Serbia: Select artificial deadlines

Commenting on the March 2023 deadline as the last date for reaching an agreement between the two states, Stano has said the EU does not set artificial deadlines.

He, in the interview for Abc, has said the deadlines are in the hands of the parties.

“When we talk about urgency; yesterday seems already too late, because this situation lasts more than 10 years and this is not in the interest of the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia. Rather than specifying artificial deadlines, we are helping the parties, as it is the parties who decide when they will be ready to reach the final date for reaching the comprehensive agreement regarding the normalisation of their relations and moving forward. To move forward from the permanent crisis management method to the method of reconciliation. We're not the ones who set the deadlines. The deadlines are completely in the hands of the parties, to the benefit of their citizens, and the European Union will do everything that the parties can to find compromise. But it is up to the parties to find the courage to reach the necessary compromises with the European spirit”, Stano has declared.

Asked about the possibility of the EU ending the negotiation process, in case one side or the other blocks the process, Stano has said that in the nature of the EU it is focusing on the outcome and not on failure.

The European Union's <x0). It's important to mention what could happen in case of failure, but it would be better not to speculate about the possibility of abandoning or ending the process. Especially after the deal reached this week, we have a moment. This agreement really paves the way towards crucial work to move forward with the normalisation process between Kosovo and Serbia. This is what we are focusing on and expecting both sides to work on in this direction and find European solutions in a European way”, Stano has declared.

Meanwhile, he has confirmed that the EU's top leader has invited Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vuciq, to Brussels for brokering negotiations.

“But EU High Representative has invited Prime Minister Kurti and President Vucic in the coming days. I hope they can come, so we can continue in the positive spirit that was achieved this week and use this moment to move forward. This is not for the European Union, but for the interests of the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia, for the beginning of the ban on escalation of the situation and the benefit from the European perspective”, Stano has declared.