10 minutes agoStano: If they implement agreements, Kosovo and Serbia will not progress towards EU
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)European Union spokesman Peter Stano said Kosovo and Serbia cannot progress on the road to membership in the European Union unless they make progress in implementing last year's agreement on normalising relations, as well as all other agreements reached within dialogue. “The EU expresses regret for [...]
European Union spokesman Peter Stano said Kosovo and Serbia cannot progress on the road to membership in the European Union unless they make progress in implementing last year's agreement on normalising relations, as well as all other agreements reached within dialogue.
“The EU expresses regret for limited progress in implementing the Agreement, which can be attributed to both sides”, Stano said in a statement given to Radio Free Europe.
With EU mediation, Kosovo and Serbia reached the Agreement on normalising relations on February 27th of 2023.
The agreement envisions, among other things, mutual respect for independence and territorial integrity, recognition of documents, diplomas, license plates, and deepening co-operation in the field of economy, rule of law, health and missing persons.
Serbia, too, took over not to block Kosovo's membership in international organisations, while Kosovo agreed that the Serb community would ensure a certain level of self-awareness, the foundation of the Serb majority municipalities' association, respectively.
But a year later, only those dealing with missing persons and recognition of the license plates were implemented.
With the signing of the Declaration on Missing Persons during the Kosovo War, the parties took over to allow access to all the documents they possess, including those <x0-confidial”.
The two sides also recognized each other's license plates. By January of this year, Kosovo citizens no longer cover the state symbols with white posters until they move with vehicles on Serbia's territory, and vice versa.
Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi accused Serbia of refusing to implement the Agreement and said it does not want to sign it.
The EU insists that the agreement, although not signed, is legally binding and that the obligations that come out of it are integral parts of the European road to Kosovo and Serbia.
With EU mediation, Kosovo and Serbia are in negotiations on normalising relations since 2011.
