U.S., EU criticism of bills adopted by Serbia related to Kosovo

“We agree with the EU...”, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller wrote on Thursday.

Kosovo and Serbia must implement the 2023 agreement, including the Association of Serb majority municipalities and solutions that emerge from dialogue for all citizens, including Serbs in Kosovo”, he wrote.

On Wednesday, the European Union called on Serbia to review the bills adopted by the Serbian government on Monday, in which it declares Kosovo as a special social protection zone and defines, reportedly, “the co-ordination of Serbian judicial authorities in the pursuit of criminal acts committed on Kosovo territory”.

These bills were warned by Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, on 13 September, in response to Kosovo authorities' decisions to eliminate institutions appointed by Serbia.

The judicial authorities' competence bill, which, among other things, envisions the establishment of a special prosecutor and a special court panel “to prosecute all those who participate in the persecution of the Serb population in Kosovo”, prompted harsh reactions by authorities in Kosovo.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said such bills are hostile and aggressive acts towards constitutionality and security in Kosovo.

We demand that international factors that have been of great help to us in this question with accuracy and justice, but at the same time should continue to support us because Kosovo as the republic in which they have contributed is again being attacked by our northern neighbour”, he said.

The European Union and the United States are urging parties to avoid actions that could trigger tensions and focus on implementing the agreement on normalising relations, which the parties agreed on last year in Brussels and Ohrid.