EU calls for restraint during northern elections

On 23 April, citizens of the four municipalities in northern Kosovo -- inhabited by Serb majority, North Mitrovica, Leposaviq, Zvecan and Zubin Potok -- will elect new mayors. Meanwhile, Leposavic and Zvecan will also be voted for the new compositions of municipal assemblies.

The EU has also expressed disappointment over the boycott of elections by the main Serb party in Kosovo, the Serbian List, which has official Belgrade's backing and has said it is necessary for Serbs to return to Kosovo institutions.

Since Serbs left the institutions in northern Kosovo in November 2022, The EU, along with our partners, was committed with both sides to lower tensions and for Kosovo Serbs to fulfill their commitment from dialogue and return to institutions, while for Kosovo to enable this return to be realised. So far, little progress has been achieved at this point. It is encouraging to return to the situation in which Kosovo Serbs actively participate in local governance, police and judiciary in northern Kosovo. We need both sides to play their role in this direction”, said EU spokesman Peter Stano, writes the REL.

On November 5, 2022, the mayors of North Mitrovica, Lposaviqi, Zvecan and Zubin Potok from the Serbian List resigned.

They, along with municipal Asamavists and other officials from the security and justice sector, made this decision as a sign of dissatisfaction with a decision by the Government of Kosovo, which obliged Serbs to replace their car plates, issued by Serbia, with those of the RKS.

In the April 23rd elections, 10 candidates for mayors of four municipalities will compete, and only one is from the Serb community. Similarly, another Serbian candidate had entered the race, but he withdrew from the race three days before holding the elections.

Referring to the elections and the non-participation of the Serbian List, Stano again expressed the European bloc's disappointment at the party's decision, given the need for the commitment of local Serbs to local government structures.

“It is necessary that elections be held under peaceful conditions, and the EU invites all sides to show restraint”, Stano added.

Stano also cited the March agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, which was reached in Ohrid in Northern Macedonia, which, according to him, envisions the participation of Serbs in Kosovo institutions.

The agreement on the road to normalisation of reports between Kosovo and Serbia on February 27th and the annex for its implementation, which was reached in Ohrid on March 18th, was major steps. The agreement and annex pave the way for comprehensive normalisation of reports. The fundamental part of implementing these agreements will be the sustainable return of Serbs to Kosovo institutions, including in local governance”, he said.

He urged Kosovo and Serbia to prioritize the return of Serbs to Kosovo institutions.

The Serbian List, but officials in Belgrade, have set two conditions for returning Serbs to Kosovo institutions: Forming the Association of Serb-run municipalities and withdrawing Kosovo Police Special Units from the north.

Otherwise, in the April 23rd elections, 19 polling stations will be open, 13 of which will be placed in containers. /