The Chief of the European Union Diplomacy, Josep Borrell, stated that there have been “unsuccessful” meetings with the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia regarding the escalation of tensions between the two states.

In an article published after the Munich Security Conference on the EU’s geopolitical agenda, Borrell also mentioned separate meetings with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, on February 16, and with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic.

“With President Vucic of Serbia, and Prime Minister Kurti of Kosovo, I discussed, in separate meetings, how to de-escalate the situation between the two states, but unfortunately without success,” said Borrell.

Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have escalated since February 1, when a regulation from the Central Bank of Kosovo began to be implemented, specifying the euro as the sole currency for cash transactions, thereby prohibiting the Serbian dinar. The European Union is seeking for this issue to be resolved through dialogue, but Kosovo has stated that the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo is not up for discussion.

Meanwhile, the United States is urging Kosovo to postpone the implementation of this decision, arguing that it was taken without prior consultation and without considering the negative impacts on the Serbian population in Kosovo.

The Serbian state allocates millions of euros for Serbs in Kosovo, paying their salaries, pensions, and additional aid in dinars – through a parallel system.

Following the meeting in Munich, Kurti’s Office stated that discussions were held with Borrell and the EU envoy, Miroslav Lajčák, regarding the statements of Serbian officials regarding the Agreement on the road to normalizing relations.

“In light of Serbia’s ongoing violations, terrorist and paramilitary attacks in Banjska against Kosovo’s territorial integrity and national security, as well as continuous public letters and statements questioning the legal obligation of the agreement for Serbia and the incomplete implementation of the Basic Agreement reached in Brussels and its Annex in Ohrid, the signing of agreements has become necessary as a guarantee of respect and full implementation towards the complete normalization of relations between the two countries,” said Kurti, according to the announcement.

The European Union has stated that the Agreement on the road to normalizing relations, reached last year, has not yet begun to be implemented.

Among other things, the 11-point agreement also provides for a level of self-governance for the Serbian community in Kosovo and mutual recognition of state symbols, while also requiring Prishtina and Belgrade to implement all previous agreements reached during the dialogue.

/k.s/