EU: We Are Willing to Intermediate Discussions on Association · Global Voices

“We have noted the statements made by Prime Minister Kurti regarding the Association of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo during the February 2nd plenary session. The forum to discuss the establishment of association, as well as any other proposal the two sides may have, is within dialogue. The EU is ready to mediate discussions on association at future dialogue meetings”, Stano said.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti rejects a single-ethnic association, with executive competence.

On February 2nd, he presented the six conditions for establishing association.

According to Kurti, the association cannot be one-ethnic, it should be in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the country, have another name and not have executive competencies, have included the principle of reciprocity among states on the rights of national minorities based on European models.

Kurti has sought to clear illegal structures in the north and become the handover of arms, as well as Serbia to withdraw letters sent to five EU non-recognitional states for Kosovo's refusal in the European bloc. Kurti has also conditioned the establishment of the Association even with his involvement in a final event agreement with Serbia, and to be implemented after mutual recognition.

Kosovo and Serbia in 2013 and 2015 have reached agreement on establishing association. But, the Constitutional Court of Kosovo said the 2015 agreement is not fully in line with the Constitution, adding that the 23 points that are contrary to the spirit of the Constitution can be harmonised.

The EU, but the United States also wants Kosovo to implement agreements on Association. Serbia demands that the association have executive competencies. But, the US has said it opposes “creating an entity that resembles Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.

Meanwhile, as for a evental high-level meeting in Brussels, between Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, Stano said that for any new dialogue meeting, the EU announces “whether and when appropriate”.

Kosovo and Serbia have been conducting dialogue since 2011, with the European Union's mediation. The process is aimed at full normalisation of reports. But, parties differ on the outcome of the dialogue. Kosovo wants in a final agreement to include recognition by Serbia that officials in Belgrade have said is <x0-line red” for them, meanwhile, Serbia insists on a compromise solution, not to show what compromise it is about.