EU urges conditioning Serbia's integration with implementation of agreements with Kosovo

European Union member states will propose that urgently in Serbia's negotiating framework for bloc membership be included implementation of the agreement towards normalisation of reports with Kosovo and all obligations from past agreements within dialogue.

This proposal is expected to take place at the December 12th meeting in Brussels of the Council for General Affairs. This Council is expected to ask the European Commission and the EU Foreign Action Service (EEAS) to urgently propose the introduction of obligations from the dialogue for normalisation of reports on chapter 35 of the negotiating framework for Serbia's membership in the bloc.

REL has had access to a draft of the conflict prepared for this meeting, where Serbia is required to implement without preconditions all obligations from the agreement under the dialogue to normalise Kosovo-Serbia reports, mediated by the EU and supported by the United States.

The Council requests from the European Commission and the high representative [for foreign policy and security, Josep Borrell] urgently to propose before the Council, before the end of January 2024, changing criteria in chapter 35 for Serbia's EU membership”, the document says.

Yes, the inclusion of the commitment to normalisation of reports with Kosovo in the negotiating framework for EU membership is cited by top bloc officials as the agreement reached in Brussels on February 27th and later on March 18th in Ohrid, the annex for its implementation, to become “particularly binding”.

The agreement, of 11 provisions, envisions, among other things, a level of self-awareness for the Serb community in Kosovo and mutual recognition of state symbols, while calling on Pristina and Belgrade to implement, as well, all previous dialogue agreements.

So far, the negotiating framework has not been formally changed.

EU ministers must approve the conclusions of the December 12th meeting, while the same must then be approved by EU leaders at the European Council summit, to be held on December 14th and 15th.

In a draft of the conflicts for Serbia once again, Belgrade will be called on to fully co-operate to bring to justice the responsibilities of attacks on civilians, soldiers of NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, during the violent protest of local Serbs on May 29th in Zvecan, northern Kosovo.

Serbia is also required to bring Kosovo Police attackers to justice on 24 September in Banjska.

During the attack, which Kosovo names terrorist and blames Serbia for it, Sergeant Africa Bulnjak was killed. Three Serb attackers were also killed during the armed clashes during September 24th.

The responsibility for the attack has been taken over by Milan Radojic, former vice president of the Serbian List, the main party of Serbs in Kosovo enjoying Serbia's support. Belgrade, meanwhile, has denied having anything to do with this attack.

The Council reiterates that there is no excuse for violence and strongly condemns the acts of violence on the part of Serb protesters against citizens, KFOR troops, members of order and media on May 29th 2023, and violent attacks on Kosovo police on 24 September 2023 in northern Kosovo”, the document said.

In the part where Serbia's obligations are spoken to take measures to bring to justice the perpetrators of crimes, the Council “regrets Serbia has not taken sufficient steps in this direction”.

According to the draft consensus, the Council calls on Serbia to engage in the EU-brokered dialogue “with good will and in the spirit of compromise to reach a comprehensive agreement, legally binding with Kosovo for normalising the reports, in line with international law and EU laws, without further delays. This agreement should address all key open issues and thus contribute to stability in the region”, the document says.

Also, in the conclusion, the bloc is expected to ask Serbia to encourage Serbs in Kosovo to return to Kosovo institutions from which they left last November due to dissatisfaction with a Kosovo government decision dealing with illegal car plates issued by Serbia. / REL