Vogel: As long as the EU and the US have brought Vucicinj, Kosovo will be in danger

The co-worker of the Council for Democratic Policy in Brussels, Toby Vogel, spoke on recent developments in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

While dialogue has stalled and lies in a political stalemate, Vogel stressed the role of the European Union and the United States in this process, as well as the impact of recent changes in EU leadership.

Joseph Borrell and Miroslav Lajcak's replacements have now been found.

Estonese Kaya Kallas will be the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security. It is considered a major Russian critic, a continued supporter of Ukraine, and a supporter of the idea that the future of the Western Balkans is in the European Union.

Meanwhile, the diplomat from Denmark, Peter Sorensen, is expected to be the special representative for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Sorensen has long diplomatic experience in EU structures. He is currently senior adviser to the EU Foreign Action Service (EEAS) for digital diplomacy.

Vogel considers that even with these changes, not much results are expected, as it adds that it should initially change the European Union's current policies.

“Changing EU representatives without changing politics will not solve the dialogue issue much. While Miroslav Lajcak's appointment had been a mistake, not only because it came from the small group of non-recognising member states of Kosovo's independence. The problem with dialogue goes far deeper than just who manages it. I am very hopeful that Kallas and her team are evaluating the matter from all angles and with an open mind of”, he says.

Furthermore, Vogel added that Kosovo does not need the status quo, as it is unstable for political and security reasons.

Regarding the neutrality of international positions against Kosovo and Serbia, he launched fierce criticism of the EU and the US.

“As long as the EU and the US keep their support for Vucinj, Kosovo will be in danger. And I don't see any indicators so far that the West's obsession with Belgrade and Vuciqi could change”, he said.

Asked whether there could be normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia during this one, Vogel expressed sceptical.

I don't see it happening. For many years, Brussels and Washington have created a situation in which Belgrade has no incentive for compromise, and as a result, there is no such incentive for Pristina neither for”, he says.

As Kosovo prepares for parliamentary elections on February 9th, Vogel suggests the future government should seek better relations with Western allies, but notes that changing Western approach is difficult.

Speaking of association, Vogel said that over the years the path of what was targeted “normalising relations” between the two states has changed.

“Action was agreed on in a very different environment, when the focus of the dialogue was unequivocally on the final goal of “abnormalization”. In recent years, this final goal has been allowed to shift to a distant distance, and as a result, there has been no movement”, said Minor.