EU concerned about very serious situation in northern Kosovo

This is naturally very serious and is the very result of escalation, which we are seeing in recent weeks. It's also a observation on how the actions of both sides lead to this” has said an EU official under anonymity.

The European Union's Mission for Rule of Law E ULEX, currently helping the Kosovo Police, following mass resignations. Italy, for example, sent reinforcements a few weeks ago. We have said in our proposals that EULEX is the second security response to assisting the Kosovo Police, but this mission cannot compensate for 100 percent of the space that has been created with the removal of police officers with ethnic Serb associates”.

According to this source, E ULEX is co-operating on the ground even with the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR.

Recent days have increased incidents in northern Kosovo, but without consequences to people.

In the late hours of December 8th, Kosovo police have indicated that a member of Kosovo has been easily injured during an armed attack in the north.
The attack has taken place hours after Kosovo police have increased their presence in that part of Kosovo.

Kosovo's Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, has said the police's decision to increase its presence in the north is aimed at securing citizens.

The chief of the Office for Kosovo in Serbia's Government, Petar Petkovovic, has said that Kosovo's “police have no right to go north and that Serbia “will consider sending its 1,000 security forces to Kosovo.

In the four municipalities in northern Mitrovica, Leposaviq, Zvecan and Zubin Potok are expected to hold local elections on 18 December. The Serbian list -- the largest party of Serbs in Kosovo, which has the backing of official Belgrade -- opposes holding them.

Its representatives have resigned in early November, in a sign of opposition to a Kosovo Government decision to reregister cars with Serbian illegal license plates in the north.

The European Union has repeatedly called for the return of Serbs to Kosovo institutions, and for fulfilling their obligations stemming from agreements reached in the process of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, under EU mediation in Brussels.

The European bloc has also said that the parties should refrain from actions and statements leading to tensions in Kosovo and that all differences should be addressed through dialogue.