Rohde: Neither Kosovo nor Serbia are fully respecting dialogue agreements

In the interview for KosovaPress, Rohde speaks of the EU Council's recent conclusions about the Association of Serb majority municipalities, while underlining that full compliance with all agreements made is in the true interest of both countries, Kosovo and Serbia.

In the past, dialogue brought substantial results. Since 2011, more than 30 agreements have been reached within the EU's facilitated dialogue, and many of them have also been implemented. Further progress in dialogue is the only way forward towards Kosovo and Serbia's future path towards the European Union. This was also made clear by the European Council at its meeting on 17 December 2024, by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyeen, new Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, and by new senior representative, Kaya Kallas”, he says.

The Kosovo government has not sent the draft EU-drafted association state to the Constitutional Court. But, the German ambassador to Kosovo, says the Draft-status should be forwarded to the Constitution as soon as possible.

Draft-state is a document approved by all of the EU-27 to implement the Ohrid Agreement and proceed with the process of normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia.

Remember the EU Council's recent conclusions: The draft should be forwarded to the Constitutional Court without further delays. ”

Serbia is not fulfilling its obligations in dialogue, while it has adopted two bills that violate Kosovo's sovereignty. The draft judicial jurisdiction in Kosovo and the other for Kosovo's “declaration of special social protection” are the two bills Germany has stated clearly violates Serbia's obligations from dialogue with Kosovo in Brussels.

Germany's “Foreign Ministry has made it clear publicly that Serbia with this clearly violates its obligations in dialogue. In general, neither Kosovo nor Serbia are fully respecting their respective dialogue agreements, thus hindering their further path towards the European Union. Full compliance with all the agreements made is in the two countries' true interest. ”

It shows when Kosovo's application for EU membership candidate status is expected to be considered.

The “is up to European Union member states to invite the EU Commission to further process the demand for Kosovo membership. In this direction, substantial progress in the EU's relaxed normalisation dialogue is crucial to convincing those member states that do not know they are still reluctant. As I highlighted in a previous interview: As long as we don't see progress, Kosovo's application for membership unfortunately remains frozen inbox). Chancellor Scholz made it clear during his visit to Pristina and Belgrade in 2022: In long term, only countries that know each other can join the European Union”, the German ambassador points out.

As for the security situation in the country, Ambassador Rohde says he has the potential to clear up.

Following the terrorist attack on Iber-Lepenc Kosovo institutions warned there is danger of repeating such acts.

According to the German ambassador, only political solutions guarantee stable and secure environment in the country.

“Turn to the KFOR commander's assessment that the security situation in Kosovo is fragile with the potential to evacuate. Germany has shown its readiness to contribute to a safe and secure environment in the country by redoubled the German KFOR contingent earlier this year. After all, however, only political solutions will ensure a stable and stable environment. We need substantial progress in the EU-mediated dialogue.”