Leaving the mayors and elections in the north, Brussels is awaiting information from Kurti

“The EU takes into account the decision of Minister of Local Power Management to create a working group for local petitions for withdrawal. The EU expects to receive more information from authorities for further concrete steps that would lead to holding these elections. In her 3 June statement, the EU had demanded that early local elections in northern Kosovo be held without delay. The EU is ready to provide legal and technical support for any process that would lead to holding early local elections through petitions for withdrawal to northern Kosovo” told RTV21 Muletier.

This EU stance came after the government has launched legal procedures for the removal of elected mayors in the country's north, paving the way for announcing new elections in the four northern municipalities.

The Ministry of Management of Local Power has appointed the working group for drafting Administrative Guide for the appointment of procedures for the initiative of citizens to evacuate mayors. Under the decision signed by the minister, Elbert Krasniqi, this group must finalise the administrative directive project by September 1st 2023.

The document also says that the task force would be supported by the EU office, representatives from embassies and the OSCE. The move comes as another step in implementing the agreement reached between the Kosovo government and the European Union for lowering tensions in the north and turning into the dialogue process with Serbia.