Borrell announces EU ministers for Kosovo- Serbia

European Union High Representative Josep Borrell will inform the EU foreign ministers today of the performance of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and discussions that EU special envoy for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak has had the last days in Pristina and Belgrade.

This has been confirmed Monday, January 23rd, at a press conference by EU Foreign Policy and Security spokesman Peter Stano.

He has declined to talk much about the meetings Lajcak has had in Pristina and Belgrade, saying that the special envoy himself has been talking about after the end of meetings in both capitals.

“In the continuation of the visit Lajcak had, the high representative, Borrell, will inform the ministers today of the results of the meetings and of the next steps in the dialogue process “, the EU spokesman has said, warning that during the day Borrell will reveal even more details.

European Union sources have said the answer to the results of the meetings depends on when the next high-level meeting between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, will take place within the dialogue.

The same sources have said they expect the parties to take seriously “European proposal“and to be the ongoing constructive of dialogue.

Lajcak was accompanied by US envoy Gabriel Escobar, as well as by three senior advisers from Germany, France and Italy, during his last visit to Kosovo and Serbia.

This joint visit, according to diplomats to the EU, has been intended to send the message of great support for the proposal given to the parties and for which they await their response and to engage in his approval.

After meeting with Kurti, Lajcak said the delegation of international envoys has expected more consensus about the possibilities the EU proposal for normalising relations between Pristina and Belgrade.

And, after meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, Lajcak said he showed responsible access and willingness to make difficult decisions in the interest of Serbia's peace and European perspective”.

The EU proposal, known earlier as the Franco-German plan, has been handed over to authorities in Pristina and Belgrade at the end of the summer. It is also supported by France, Germany and the US.

Officials in Pristina have said earlier that this proposal provides a good basis for continuing dialogue with Serbia, while those in Belgrade have said it is not favourable for them.

The plan, in which the REL approach has been provided, envisions equal rights for Kosovo and Serbia, respect for territorial integrity, border invisibility, recognition of state symbols and a special arrangement for the Serb community in Kosovo.

The document does not mention mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia or the membership of Kosovo in the United Nations Organisation, for which things Kosovo officials publicly insist, but stresses the support the parties should give each other in the process of European integration. / REL