an hour agoEU: Stick card regime continues
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security spokesman Petar Stano has said that the EU expressed regret over failing to reach agreement between Kosovo and Serbia for license plates at recent meetings within dialogue, but that, in the absence of agreement on a long-term solution, it will continue to apply to the infectious card regime. “
“Wednesday's working groups for vehicle plates completed their work in seeking a permanent solution to the license issue, based on EU standards and practices. The EU regrets why no agreement was reached yesterday on the license issue between the two chief negotiators. As there is no agreement for permanent resolution, the infectious paper regime will continue to be in force”, EU spokesman Stano has said.
He has declared that the European Union, in the quality of facilitator dialogue, invites Kosovo and Serbia's top negotiators to meet again in the following days in Brussels to agree on the road ahead and find a solution.
“The EU and the international community expect both sides to refrain from any unilateral action that could jeopardise security on the ground and complicate further progress in the dialogue”, Stano has said.
Referring to the recent meeting of the chief negotiators, which took place in Brussels on Thursday, Stano has said that other current issues, including the implementation of previously reached agreements in the dialogue, and the preparation of the ground for the upcoming summit, were discussed at that meeting.
“Discutions on these issues will continue in the following days”, EU spokesman Petar Stano has said.
Even Serbia's chief negotiator, Petar Petkov, has said the agreement on the use of stick cards is in effect and, according to its interpretation, it has not expired and will be worth it until any other deal is reached.
Kosovo's first Deputy Prime Minister, Besnik Bislimi, after meeting in Brussels on Thursday, had said Kosovo would approach the issue of freedom of movement in the same way as Serbia. He had said Kosovo would not take immediate action.
In the EU, they continue to ask the parties to show restraint so that the repetition of tensions that had occurred in September last year when Kosovo had started implementing reciprocity, while Serbs in northern Kosovo had blocked roads. At the time, reconciliation was reached for a transitional solution, while the six-month mandate was given to working groups to find a permanent solution. This deadline has expired Thursday, and settlement reconciliation has not been reached in this deadline.
