Analyst: Strategic, government action to accept EU proposal

Confirmation by the Government of Kosovo for accepting the proposal of what is commonly known as the Franco-German plan, university professors Gzim Visoka of Abi Hoxha, generally do not view it as an ideal agreement. According to them, this is an agreement that helps overcome political stalemate, which could potentially lead to a better deal in the future.

Gezim Visoka, professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Dublin in Ireland, in a more written response to Radio Kosovo says the Kosovo Government's announcement of accepting the EU proposal, as far as it looks like a strategic act, is imposed by current circumstances.

The “seems to have no prospect of a comprehensive agreement on the full normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, focusing on mutual recognition as originally envisioned. Thus, the basic proposal seems to be the only way forward for Kosovo to download EU and US pressure, as well as to overcome the current stalemate in hopes that this interim agreement will pave the way for further consolidation of Kosovo's sovereignty both inside and abroad,” says Visoka

Even Abbit Hoxha, university legalist at Agder University in Norway, sees this Kosovo's acceptance of this proposal as a positive step. He says he does not expect rapid changes, but that exiting statuskuo sees it as positive.

The Kosovo government has finally begun to understand this international game. I don't think there's going to be a big policy change, right now, but it's good that there's movement”, he said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, after an extraordinary meeting with the Serbian government, has said Serbia should participate in discussions on the Franco-German plan, as otherwise a full political and economic loss would occur.

And the Kosovo Government's acceptance of the proposal can also be seen as a strategic movement of Kosovo, says Professor Gzim Visoka.

Kosovo in the past has accepted unideable agreements while Serbia has consistently rejected them, which has brought serious consequences for the latter. History can repeat itself. Accepting the current EU proposal from Kosovo will probably not satisfy Serbia and likely reject or delay it, which will then put Kosovo in a better position and avoid taking blame and exposure to different sanctions or consequences,” he says

And the other professor, Abbit Hoxha, accepts this plan on the part of the Kosovo government and sees it as a good political movement, because it throws the ball into the opposition's field.

Kosovo's “government has begun to realise this process, which often needs to be accepted something not why the best option, but to throw the ball into the opponent's field. This game between the EU, Kosovo and Serbia is being played this way. We see that all policies coming from emissary Miroslav Lajcak are all in this context”, he stressed.

US and EU representatives have said they welcome Kosovo's decision to accept the EU Plan in the principle of normalising Kosovo-Serbia reports, calling for continued dialogue between the two countries.