Decision time: European opportunity for Serbia, Kosovo

Our leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melon (Melon) have charged us with the task of offering our support to EU High Representative Borrell, and the EU's special emissary, Miroslav Lajčák, to bring the normalisation of Serbia and Kosovo a major step forward.

Why is this important to our countries? Why should we now become more involved in a dialogue in which both sides have been stuck for years?

The reason is that the future of Serbia and Kosovo, as well as the entire Western Balkans, is in the European Union and we want to be your biggest supporters on your path to membership in this union.

Europe lies in the midst of a turning point. With the brutal attack on the neighboring Ukrainian state, Russia has restored a full - scale war on our continent. Part of our response to this unacceptable violation of European security is the added commitment to making our European home stronger and more inclusive. For the six Western Balkan states on their path to EU membership, we have to make an additional effort to remove the obstacles of the past, which are blocking this path.

The most obvious obstacle is the unresolved relationship between Serbia and Kosovo, which is also the issue of European security. What we saw at the end of last year has greatly distressed us. Blockades, violence, threats and nationalist rhetoric made daily lives of citizens in northern Kosovo difficult to deal with.

This instability of being constantly just one step away from violent escalation must end. It has to end because European citizens are rightly asking how Serbia and Kosovo will sit as friends and partners at the same table in Brussels as members of the European Union. How can we assure them that our support for Serbia and Kosovo is a good idea?

It has to end because investors from our countries read the news and wonder if it's worth investing in this region. What if they are threatened with a new conflict?

But, first of all, this situation must end, because the citizens of Kosovo and those of Serbia deserve a better future. A future in which disputes that are hindering the progress of both countries will finally be overcome.

The future offers friendship, regional co-operation and a common market. It eventually offers the promise to all Western Balkan countries that they join the European Union member states as equal states, once the criteria are met. The opportunity to take place in this future is now.

That is why we proposed a new and adequate basis for Kosovo-Serbia relations, the basis approved by all EU member states and actively supported by our American leaders and partners. We welcome the powerful and courageous signal President Vuciq and Prime Minister Kurti sent to Brussels on February 27th, when they accepted the text of this proposal.

Now this agreement must be lived as soon as possible through a clear guide to implementation. In the key talks that will follow, it is not about complicated agreement reached, but about setting concrete steps for it to become a reality.

What both sides would have to avoid is trying to re-interpret pledges. This would imply risking this unique opportunity and risk blocking the road towards EU membership.

Kosovo should meet its obligations for the protection of the Serb community, including taking steps to create a co-ordination of Serb majority municipalities and ensure a high-level defence of Serbian religious and cultural heritage objects. Serbia must agree with the fact that Kosovo is a neighbour who has a European perspective and his country in the international community.

Time is not on our side. And even more importantly, it is not on the side of Kosovo and Serbia. We must act with sound reason for responsibility and urgency.

Yes, this will require bold leadership on both sides and responsible behaviour by political forces in Serbia and Kosovo, but this can be done. Now it's decision-making time! We as friends of Kosovo and Serbia pledge to support you along your path to the European Union.

Emmanuel Bonne, Jens Plötner, Francesco Talão

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Mellon.