The EU does not comment on Bislim's statements, urges Kosovo to announce elections in the north “as soon as”

That is what a spokesman to the EU, in a response to Radio Free Europe, did, referring to Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi's recent statement, who on Monday, during a meeting with journalists in Pristina, has said Kosovo should not declare elections in the country's north, without removing the punitive measures imposed by the European Union.

The EU spokesman, though not commenting on Bislim's statements, reiterated the EU's call for Kosovo's election proclamation, as well as called on Serbs living in the four northern municipalities to participate in these elections.

“However, we take the opportunity to repeat that the EU expects the parties to implement the requirements that have been voiced in the 27 EU nations' statement on June 3rd of 2023. This clear includes that extraordinary elections should be announced as soon as possible, to be organised in a comprehensive manner in all four Serbian municipalities in the north. Kosovo Serbs are expected to participate in these elections”, the European Union's response reported.

The Kosovo government has agreed on July 10th to make a public statement, to support holding early elections in four northern municipalities after the summer.

Under the agreement reached with the EU, Kosovo is committed to providing the necessary legal basis for organising the elections.

Bislimim the day before said it is pending the EU's announcement of the removal of sanctions, following the compliance achieved between Kosovo and the EU in Bratislava, and the withdrawal of 25% of police forces from municipal buildings in the 4 northern municipalities.

However, diplomatic sources from the EU have told Free Europe Radio that removing the punitive measures the European Union has imposed on Kosovo will depend on implementing the obligations Pristina has taken and other steps expected by authorities in Kosovo to continue efforts to reduce tensions in the north.

The punitive measures the EU has imposed on Kosovo after it made it guilty of escalation of the situation in the country's north include: the temporary suspension of the work of troops created under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the failure of Kosovo at high-level meetings and the suspension of bilateral visits, in addition to those focusing on addressing the crisis in northern Kosovo within the framework of the EU-launched dialogue.

Other measures including halting Kosovo funding programming 2024 (Pre-membership Instruments). Kosovo's proposals under the Investment Framework in the Western Balkans have not been submitted for review by the board 29 June and 30 June.

As for last week's meetings, this EU spokesman said he expects the parties to reflect and give their marks for topics that were on the agenda. And at the same time, he said, the parties refrain from unilateral steps that could lead to new eventual escalations.

EU special envoy Lajcak had called negotiators from Kosovo and Serbia last week to discuss some topics on the agenda of dialogue that facilitates the EU. These included implementing the new agreement on the road to normalisation of reports, energy, implementation of the declaration of missing persons, de-excending the situation in northern Kosovo, organising extraordinary elections and trade-related issues”, the spokesman said.

The chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia on July 19th have met separately with the envoy for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak in Brussels, where “has been discussed for a long list of dialogue issues, starting with implementation of the February 27th Agreement and extension”.

These meetings were difficult and long, and they did not produce any immediate results. However, the parties were asked to reflect and give turning marks on the issues that were in the agenda”, the same source said, adding that discussions would continue.

The “Discusions will continue and the EU's facilitator will call a new meeting in the period ahead of us, the EU expects both sides to fulfil obligations from dialogue and EU requirements for de-escalation without new delays, engage constructively in the process, and refrain from actions that could lead to other”, this spokesman has said.

The situation in northern Kosovo has deteriorated as local Serbs in northern Kosovo municipalities { Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok have rejected the entry of new Albanian mayors, with Kosovo Police assisting the municipal buildings.

Crusaders have won the mandates in elections held in April of this year, which Serbs have boycotted.