Borrell calls to Serbia's Kosovo: To apply the agreement on our proposal

Borrell has stressed the need for more constructive commitment and full trust on both sides to implement the agreement reached this year. He has added it is important that both sides meet their obligations to implement previous dialogue agreements

European Union High Representative Josep Borrell has made a statement today, following last week's Belgrade-Pristina dialogue meeting. According to his statement, the two sides must start implementing on the basis of the EU proposal agreed on at the beginning of this year without further delays, while work on establishing the Association/United Commissions of the Serbian Majority should begin without any other precondition.

Borrell said it requires that the parties engage constructively and with confidence in implementing what they agreed during this year.

This implies the beginning of implementation based on the EU proposal without further delays, which also includes the obligation of both sides to fully implement all bilateral Dialogue Agreements. Work on establishing the Association/United municipalities with the Serbian Majority should begin without any further delay or precondition, writes EWB.

He adds that the EU remains equally concerned about the lack of progress on both sides in de-progressing tensions in northern Kosovo, months after the recent outbreak of violence left wounded citizens, KFOR troops, rule forces and media representatives, with some having serious and permanent consequences.

Despite repeated calls from the EU and other international partners, steps taken so far remain insufficient, and the security situation in the north remains tense”, Borrell has said.

According to the statement, small-scale continuing attacks by criminal groups and intimidation of the newly drafted Kosovo Serb police cadets and local population are unacceptable and should be stopped immediately.

The requests made in the Declaration on behalf of the EU of June 3rd remain completely valid. The returning measures the EU has taken remain in force, including the suspension of high-level meetings with Kosovo. The EU is willing to drop these measures in the event of progress in meeting existing requirements, or to assess further measures on both sides, if necessary.

“The EU recalls the importance of holding early local elections in northern Kosovo to help reduce tensions. A faster solution is needed to enable election proclamation. We encourage Kosovo Serbs to fully engage in the election process and publicly declare their unconditional participation”, the statement said.

The EU called on all political actors, at all levels of governance, both in Kosovo and Serbia, to engage constructively in the process leading to early local elections in northern Kosovo, to avoid further escalation steps and to support progress in EU-mediated dialogue.

“The EU expresses full support for High Representative Josep Borrell's efforts in his quality as a mediator of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, as well as EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčac, and reminds the parties that the European path of Kosovo and Serbia continues through a relaxed dialogue by the EU and through normalisation of relations between the parties. Both sides risk losing the opportunity to walk on their European roads”, the statement concludes.

By contrast, at the beginning of this year, Kosovo and Serbia have agreed to the Basic Agreement in Brussels and later to the Annex for its implementation in Ohrid.

But, the latest round of dialogue in Brussels, held on September 14th, has ended without any results.

After this meeting, EU representatives stated that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has not been ready to move the process forward, while the latter said he had presented a plan for implementing the agreement, but that the same has been rejected by Serbia and Europeans.

Kurti has also accused EU emissar Miroslav Lajcak of positioning against Kosovo.