Between Kosovo and EU disagreements on lifting measures

So the Government of Kosovo comments, in response to Radio Free Europe, the EU's stance that, in removing punitive measures, along with further steps towards reducing the situation in the north, it is “of crucial importance” rapid implementation of the Agreement for normalising relations between Pristina and Belgrade, as well as its Annex of implementation.

“This includes forming the Association of Serb majority municipalities [in Kosovo]”, EU spokesman Peter Stano told Radio Free Europe.

The agreement on normalising relations under the EU proposal has been reached at the end of February, while for the Annex of its implementation, the parties agreed in March. This agreement envisions resolving many open issues between Kosovo and Serbia.

However, the agreement fell into second place, following increasing tensions in northern Kosovo at the end of May.

Why were punitive measures imposed against Kosovo?

In northern Kosovo, where Serb majority populations live, tensions arose after Albanian leaders -- with police assistance -- entered municipal buildings in northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok.

The situation escalated 29 May, when Serbs clashed with members of NATO's military peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR), in Zvecan. On that occasion, about 90 KFOR soldiers were seriously and easily injured, as were dozens of Serbs who participated in the clashes.

The EU, which has been mediating in the dialogue on normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia for more than ten years, charged Pristina with these tensions and urged immediate enlargement of the situation and return to dialogue.

Along with the consensus that the Government of Kosovo is ignoring these requirements, the EU imposed punitive measures on it in late June, in the form of the temporary suspension of work for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Also, Kosovo's presence in high-level organisations and bilateral visits has been suspended.

Meanwhile, Kosovo's special envoy for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, and Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, on July 10th, in Bratislava, reached agreement to stress the situation in the north.

In addition to concrete steps related to the withdrawal of police from and around municipal buildings in the north and the proclamation of new elections, the EU also stressed the importance of implementing agreements drawn from dialogue.

Kosovo government: Unfair measures, consecutive and balanced implementation of the agreement

The Kosovo government stresses that the first point of the expansion agreement, which has to do with reducing police forces, has already been met and adds that so far, 50 per cent of police officers have withdrawn from and around municipal facilities in the country's north.

The government emphasises that a security assessment has been made in co-operation with KFOR and EULEX (the EU Commission for Rule of Law), as envisioned at the second point of the agreement, and that it is continuing to prepare administrative instruction, under which the way of announcing new elections will be opened.

Kosovo is respecting its agreement with the EU. At the same time, in the field we have a significantly tense situation. Security is better. The situation is calmer. It has been about two months since the latest violent incident” has been marked, the Kosovo Government says.

However, they add that Kosovo is aware of the new potential escalation that could be caused by Serbia by “inciting hatred and aggression”.

Therefore, as stated in response to the REL, the Government of Kosovo believes the EU's punitive measures were and are unfair, “particularly after progress in implementing the agreement for expansion and improvement of the situation on the ground”.

Regarding the Agreement for normalising relations and Anex for its implementation, the Kosovo Government stresses that the official Pristina is always “ready, constructive and dedicated to” to implement the “agreement in a sequenced and balanced manner”.

“, on the other hand, should always be stressed by Serbia's unilateral public refusal to implement them, along with continued violations, without any remarks or consequences from the EU”, the Kosovo government says.

The agreement on normalisation between the two sides and the Anex for its implementation, among other things, envisions Kosovo to provide members of the Serb community in Kosovo with a set <x0-level single-only”.

International officials have, at times, said this point of the agreement concerns forming the Association of Serb majority municipalities. The Association Agreement was reached in 2013 and should ensure greater autonomy for Serbs in Kosovo.

EU still concerned

In response to the REL, Peter Stano stresses that the EU is still concerned about tensions in northern Kosovo and reminds it has become clear that measures will be taken if the situation does not relax.

He adds that the EU welcomes the Kosovo Government's recent decision to reduce the presence of police, but that steps are needed to warn of lowering tensions.

To end the current crisis, it would take as soon as the early elections in all four municipalities are announced and organised in a fully comprehensive manner. That means, with the full and unconditional participation of Kosovo Serbs”, Stano says.

The EU has announced several times that it will impose punitive measures on Serbia as well if it does not co-operate in extending the situation.

In the end, however, Stano emphasises the importance of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and implementation of all agreements reached, including the Association of Serb majority municipalities.

Kosovo's “expectations are not realistic”

Demush Shasha of the Kosovar Institute for European Policy, in a proposal for Radio Free Europe estimates that government expectations for attracting punitive measures from the EU are not real, or, that the first steps towards austerity are just starting in that direction.

He considers the EU expects Kosovo, following the suspension of the situation in the north, to begin concrete implementation of the Agreement for normalisation of relations.

The start of implementing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement in the north is not enough to annul EU measures, especially if we are aware that the EU is cautious because of the scepticism existing in Pristina against dialogue”, Shasha says.
According to him, the European Union expects Albin Kurti's Government to make a strategic “correction” in relation to dialogue.

The “should not only be temporary political maneuver about the start of implementing the demand for the extension of the situation in the north”, says European policy connoisseur Shasha.

The enlargement of the situation in the north and the return to dialogue are also Western states' demands towards Kosovo.

US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Havenier, during a conversation with reporters in Pristina on 16 August, said his country's requests to the Government of Kosovo have nothing to do with pressure.

He added that Kosovo has the right to make decisions independently, but according to him, it is desirable that Kosovo accept advice and suggestions when it comes to avoiding tensions.

In this context, he said Kosovo requires “to implement the Ohrid Agreement immediately and advance negotiations on forming the Serb majority municipality association”.

Hovier also voiced position that the Kosovo government should not provide “to provide” The EU over the removal of measures, but must work on severing relations, without taking steps that could lead to new escalation.