Borrell wants the barricades removed: The situation in the north is unacceptable

At a media conference, he said he has urged member states to reinforce EULEX with additional troops if necessary, and that has come in line with them.

“Since August, we are in a vicious cycle of confrontations, provocations and reactions, which have escalated in recent days, and have provoked serious security incidents, including an attack on our mission, EULEX and the Kosovo Police. Barricades blocking roads, armed men in the streets, is not something we are willing to accept, we do not accept that from our partners, who are aspiring to a European future. This situation must end and the barricades must be removed. Silence must be returned. The council has clearly called on both sides for calm and refrain from violent and provocative actions. I have asked member states to be willing to send more units to our EULEX mission. And many have agreed and expressed willingness to increase capacities if necessary”, Borrell said.

According to him, Kosovo and Serbia have declared that they are ready for escalation of the situation, while optimisticly expressing this will happen.

As for the Franco-German proposal, Borrell says he has the strong support of 27 EU member states.

The “must return to the dialog. It is a task that the EU has received from the General Assembly of the United Nations and also I as a facilitator. This is essential for both sides on European roads. After the summer incidents we've put in place a proposal for the two leaders, we've updated that last few weeks, following the last deal we made for the plates, which we hoped would avoid tensions. We've offered that proposal and we have to postpone it urgently. I am happy that we have received the strong support of all ministers for this initiative. Now it's a proposal of 27 EU states”, Borrell said.

He also indicated that the EU's emissary for Kosovo dialogue Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, will travel to the two states on Wednesday to try to calm the situation.