5 minutes agoSerwer for the law on foreigners: Serbs benefit, but can even raise tensions because this community is not independent of Belgrade
Periskopi(4 months ago)
(4 months ago)The Kosovo government agreed to issue temporary permission to stay for 12 months for members of the Serb community, who do not have Kosovo documents, and to recognise ID cards issued by Serbian authorities that would ease the consequences of full implementation of the Foreign Law and [...]
Given these laws, all those who do not have Kosovo documents will have to get residence permits, while vehicles with foreign license plates will not be able to circulate on the streets of Kosovo for more than three months, or on the basis of authorisation.
American Professor and Balkan Affairs connoisseur Daniel Serwer has a positive assessment of the agreement reached by Kosovo with the European Union for implementing the Foreign and Automotive Law, which affects the Serb community in the country.
In a proposal for news.net, Serwer stressed that this approach is more practical than political.
The “is a good thing: pragmatic and technical, more than political or rhetorical,”, he said, putting the agreement in the context of Kosovo's dialogue and relations with the EU.
As far as influence on the Serb community is concerned, he expressed himself reserved, but added that there may be benefits for them.
I don't really know. You better ask them. It seems to me that they benefit,” declared Serwer.
He also underlined the importance of including this community in decision-making, but acknowledged practical difficulties.
In principle, it's important. In practice, difficult, as this community is not independent from Belgrade,” he said of news.net, the Periscope broadcast.
Commenting on the decision on the 12-month interim permits, Serwer stressed that the success of this move depends on the way of implementation.
This depends entirely on how these 12 months are used. It is important that Kosovo institutions act quickly to regulate the status of all Serbs who want to do so. Also, the more Serbs should seek to regulate their status in Kosovo,” he said.
In the end, the American professor warned of both the benefits and the risks that this agreement can bring.
The benefits are clear: Kosovo must become a normal state that treats all its citizens equally. The risks are also clear: this could be another move that increases tensions with Kosovo Serbs and with Serbia,”, he stressed.
According to him, a key role in the process is Belgrade. “Belgrade has a choice: it must choose to encourage Kosovo Serbs to co-operate,” concluded Cerwer.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti's government decision came after a meeting in Pristina with the European Union's special envoy for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Peter Sorensen, on Saturday morning, where it was said that full implementation of the law began as early as March 15th 2026.
This agreement has been welcomed by both the international community and Serbia.
Meanwhile, United Kingdom Ambassador to Kosovo Jonathan Hargrees welcomed the agreement, stressing that he respects the Kosovo legal framework and provides practical solutions for all communities to live, work and study legally in the country.
The United Kingdom welcomes the agreement reached between Kosovo and the EU for implementing the Foreign Law. The agreement respects Kosovo's legal framework, while offering practical solutions for all communities to live, work and study legally in Kosovo without interruptions of services. We welcome Prime Minister Kurti's commitment to implementing the law and other future plans affecting the Serb community in Kosovo, in close co-ordination with the EU and community”, was said in his post.
The director for the Western Balkans in the German government, Michael Reiffenstwell, has reacted to the issue.
And the United States Embassy in Kosovo has said it welcomes the agreement reached between Kosovo and the European Union for implementing the Law for Foreigners and has stressed that any changes affecting the Serb community in Kosovo should be made in consultation with its members.
“We congratulate the parties' commitment to this issue to reach acceptable solutions for both sides”, an embassy spokesman has said in a written response to Radio Free Europe.
He has said we welcome and fully support efforts to exploit the new moment in dialogue to fully implement the Brussels/Ohri agreements.
Otherwise Prime Minister Kurti has said he has agreed to allow temporary permission to stay for health workers and education so that local Serbs do not lack basic services until Kosovo completely melts them within its system.
