Eurodeputs urge the EU to change approach, Kosovo and Serbia to return dialogue

A deadly shootout in northern Kosovo on 24 September and Washington's warning last week of an unprecedented “collection of Serbian troops near the border with Kosovo have raised fears for the region's stability.

And as Serbian military officials said yesterday that Belgrade cut the number of troops at the border, concerns continue in Western capitals.

“I am deeply concerned about the recent attack on Banjska and the possible escalating consequences that could have produced”, Cromon said.

Von Cromon-Taubadel, who is a rapporteur of the Parliament for Kosovo, told Guardian on an email today that “we have witnessed the deterioration and ultimately the stalemate in dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo”.

After terrorist Milan Radojicic had admitted to being involved in the terrorist attack, Cromon said he must know who is behind this attack.

“We need to know to what extent and with whose help he carried out the attack, given the amount of ammunition and armoured vehicles”, said Von Cranmon-Taubdel, broadcast Express.

She said there should be a review of Brussels' approach.

“The EU now must reassess its overall strategy for Serbia-Kosovo talks and the Western Balkan region in general”, she said.

The current “ECTION, which focuses on economic and political stability, led to the attack on Banjska. Instead, we should give priority to the rule of law and democracy and engage more with progressive voices from around the region”, she said.

“Finally, we need an immediate reinforcement of KFOR and EUFOR nothing prevents the presence of powerful NATO troops on the ground”, she added.

The European Parliament will debate the situation in Kosovo and Serbia this afternoon.

Before the discussion, The Guardian asked a eurodeput that closely follows developments in the region how tensions are viewed.

I think both sides have great responsibility to make sure that we return dialogue as soon as possible”, Vladimír Bilčevic, a Slovak member of the European Parliament, said in a telephone interview this morning.

Bilčik, who serves as EP negotiator for Serbia, said “n should look carefully at the situation both in Belgrade and Pristina”.

“Unfortunately”, he added, “with the arrival of Albin Kurti to power [in Kosovo] negotiations are really stuck and have not moved towards finding a solution, and I'm saying that as someone who is very open to criticism of the Serbian side”.

The recent deadly shooting in northern Kosovo is “obsolutely disgusting and unacceptable, and this is really an extremely dangerous situation that shows that things can really get out of control. And it's important that de-progress take place, so there's a full investigation of”, Bilčik said.

It's a huge carrot at play and the carrot is EU membership. And if the dialogue doesn't continue, we'll see more conflict, more nationalism, more withdrawal from the world”.