EU discussions continue on lifting measures against Kosovo

Last summer, the EU has taken several punitive measures against Kosovo, including the cancellation of several high-level meetings, assessing that Kosovo has not taken sufficient steps to intensify the situation in the Serb-run north.

Tensions in this area have increased after the Kosovo government has installed Albanian mayors in Serb majority municipalities at the end of May 2023.

The recommendation for lifting the measures has given EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Josep Borrell in June, rationalising it with steps Kosovo has taken to meet the conditions for their removal.

Currently it is said that the EU Foreign Action Service (EEAS) is continuing consultations with member states on the text of a statement by the high representative, with which it would be announced for removing the measures.

But some versions of the text of such a declaration have failed to receive the support of all member states.

According to diplomatic sources in the EU, most of the countries have agreed to remove the measures, some have wanted to remove only a part of them, but some have also called for the deployment of a clause, under which measures could be returned by automatism, if Kosovo authorities took any unilateral and uncoordinated steps in the north, that would raise tensions.

EU spokesperson for foreign policy and security Peter Stano told Radio Free Europe that Borrell, as requested by him, has sent the report to member states and discussion about it in June.

But Stano said that “the maintenance of that report will not be made public”.

Free Europe Radio has had a chance to see that report and on it has been recommended lifting measures.

“Take into account the steps Kosovo has taken towards meeting EU requirements, expressed in the June 3rd 2023 statement, the high representative recommends to the [European] Council that it takes a stance on removing measures for Kosovo, at the same time respecting institutional pre-rogations”, is said in Borrell's report.

Borrell, in his recommendation, has said the decision on the part of the Council would contribute to a balanced context in which dialogue for normalising relations between Pristina and Belgrade, facilitated by the EU, could move forward.

Kosovo is expected to take advantage of this opportunity to act deceleratively and to avoid uncoordinated actions”, it is said in Borrell's report.

But, during discussions, some member states have argued that meeting conditions on the part of Kosovo “is not full”.

Stano says “consultations on the Council are continuing”.

In the European Union, they do not want to talk about the deadlines of when measures could be removed, but EU officials say under the condition of anonymity that “vedience has become more difficult after unconstructive behaviour” at recent meetings between Kosovo and Serbia, at the high level and at the level of chief negotiators.

At the end of June, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, have been invited to Brussels for a new round of talks, but the joint meeting has not been held because of some conditions Kurti has issued and which Vuciq has rejected.

Some EU sources say that among the reasons some states do not want the measures removed are the low level of trust against Kosovo authorities, and fears that Kosovo can take unilateral steps to open the bridge over the Iber River, connecting the north and south of Mitrovica. / REL/