EU mediation attempt between Serbia and Kosovo failed

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At the negotiating table: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, EU High Representative Josep Borrell, EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčák and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti

Photo: Virginia Mayo / AP

For years, the EU has been trying to clarify the relationship between Serbia and Kosovo through mediation. Now a new attempt at mediation has failed. At mediation talks in Brussels, Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti did not accept a proposal for de-escalation, said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell after hours of negotiations in Brussels. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, on the other hand, would have supported it.

Specifically, according to Borrell, the proposal provided for simultaneous work on the implementation of demands of Serbia and Kosovo. Accordingly, the establishment of the association of municipalities with Serb majorities in Kosovo, which was agreed years ago, should have begun, while at the same time steps would have been taken towards recognition of Kosovo by Serbia. Kurti, however, unfortunately insisted on de facto recognition as a first step, Borrell said.

The EU's attempts at mediation are extremely difficult because Kosovo, which is now inhabited almost exclusively by Albanians, seceded from Serbia in 1999 with NATO help and declared independence in 2008. More than 100 countries, including Germany, recognize Kosovo's independence. Others, including Serbia, Russia, China and five EU countries, do not.

Difficult negotiations

Currently, Belgrade and Pristina are again negotiating the settlement of their relations. However, the talks are complicated and have recently been overshadowed by violence. At the end of May, violent Serbs in northern Kosovo even attacked soldiers of the KFOR peacekeeping force in the course of a conflict over mayoral elections. They used tear gas and stun grenades. Dozens of soldiers and Serbs suffered injuries.

Referring to the tensions in northern Kosovo, Borrell said that there was no progress in this area either. Kosovo had taken some steps, but these were not sufficient to implement the demand for a complete de-escalation.

The EU calls on both sides to act immediately to defuse the situation, avoid further destabilisation and allow new local elections to be held without delay, Borrell said. You can't sit around and wait for the next crisis.

col/dpa