The High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell said on Sunday that now is the time for Kosova and Serbia to end the crisis and tensions and move forward in a “new European era” by implementing the agreement on the normalization of the neighboring relations.

Borrell said on March 17, one day before the anniversary of the Ohrid Agreement between Kosova and Serbia that “it is unfortunate that, despite the comprehensive efforts by the EU and the international community, so far Kosova and Serbia have made very little progress to the implementation of the obligations they accepted according to this agreement“.

On February 27, 2023 in Brussels, Kosova and Serbia reached the Basic Agreement, while on March 18 in Ohrid, an agreement was reached on the Annex for the implementation of the agreement.

The agreement of 11 articles, among other things, foresees a level of self-management for the Serbian community in Kosova and mutual recognition of state symbols, while asking Prishtina and Belgrade to also implement all previous agreements reached during the dialogue.

Brussels has accused both parties of not implementing the agreement.

The head of European diplomacy said that he expects the leaders of Kosova and Serbia to show “responsibility, vision and leadership by marking progress in the implementation of the agreement without delays“.

Senior officials of Kosova and Serbia have repeatedly expressed positions that hint that they are not ready to adhere to the agreement.

Kosovan Prime Minister, Albin Kurti insists on signing the agreement, as, as he considers, this would be a guarantee that Serbia would also fulfill its obligations.

While, President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, said earlier that he will not sign any agreement that would mean the recognition of Kosovo or its membership in the United Nations.

On December 14, the prime minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabic submitted an official letter to the EU HQ, expressing reservations about the obligations arising from the agreement and its implementation annex.

Borrell said that at a time of “unprecedented wars on our continent“, reaching an agreement that promises peace, stability and good neighborly relations “was a historic achievement“.

He warned both Kosova and Serbia that their European future depends on the implementation of this agreement and that it is an obligation for them in accordance with international law.

“The lack of implementation not only endangers the parties’ European integration, but also damages their reputation as reliable partners,” he said.

Tensions between Kosova and Serbia have increased since February 1, when a regulation of the Central Bank of Kosova, which foresees the Euro as the only currency for making cash payments, banning the Serbian dinar, began to be implemented.

The Serbian state allocates millions of Euros to Serbs in Kosova after paying them in dinars, through a parallel system  salaries, pensions and additional assistance.

The EU has announced that on March 19 in Brussels, at the level of chief negotiators, Kosova and Serbia will discuss the issue.

The EU and also the US, have criticized the decision on the dinar, saying that it was taken without prior consultation and without considering the negative impacts it has on the Serbian community.

Washington has asked Kosova to postpone and suspend the decision, but so far the Government of Kosova has not shown signs that it will withdraw from this regulation.

/a.p./