The EU is losing patience: Vuciq Kurt hindering meeting in Brussels

European Union officials estimate that public statements by Kosovo and Serbian leaders, where they initially present conditions, are an obstacle to organising a summit in Brussels.

A European source told Radio Free Europe under the condition of anonymity that “is this kind of public attitude of both leaders, which in advance indicate their conditions, which creates the biggest obstacle to the appointment date of the” meeting in Brussels.

According to this source, holding the next round of talks depends on whether leaders from Pristina and Belgrade “agree on the date of the first agenda”.

Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, said earlier in the day, will go to Brussels when Pristina forms the Association of Serb majority municipalities.

That statement came after the European Union's high representative for foreign policy and security, Josep Borrell, said on February 9th that soon there will be a new meeting between Serbian President and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, to continue discussions on the EU proposal for normalisation of relations.

On February 6th, Kurti declared that establishing association is not his priority, but last week he unveiled the six conditions for his formation.

The US and the EU have stepped up pressure on Kosovo to implement agreements reached for Association in 2013 and 2015.

The Constitutional Court of Kosovo in 2015 said some provisions of the agreement were not in harmony with the Constitution, but that it can be harmonised.

Reports between Kosovo and Serbia were the subject at the EU heads of state or government summit, which is under way Thursday on February 9th.

The message for expectations from the dialogue was included in the conclusions approved at the summit.

The EU Council welcomes the European proposal to place the reports between the two sides on a new and stable basis as a historic case that should be used by both sides in order to realise their European perspective“, the text of the concerts that was adopted at the two-day summit of EU heads of states in Brussels says.

The EU's proposal for normalising Kosovo-Serbia relations has been handed over to the two countries at the end of last summer, but its contents have not been made public.

This proposal, in which the REL has had access, 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.

Kosovo and Serbia hold dialogue under EU mediation that has US support as well since 2011. The process aims to normalise reports between states. But Kosovo and Serbia have different views as far as the process ends.

As long as Pristina wants a final agreement to include mutual recognition, Belgrade insists on a compromise solution, without specifying what compromise it is about.