The head of the European Union’s foreign policy, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday evening that a unit of Italian carabinieri has arrived in Kosovo to ensure the rule of law in the light of new developments in the north of Kosovo, after the withdrawal of Serbian employees from all local institutions.

“In these tense times in Kosovo, the European Union Rule of Law Mission, EULEX fulfills its duty to guarantee stability. The European Gendarmerie Force, part of the Carabinieri landed tonight to temporarily reinforce the EULEX Police Unit in Kosovo. EULEX will continue to support a secure environment,” Mr. Borrell wrote on Twitter.

The Carabinieri will join the EULEX Specialized Police Unit, consisting of 105 Polish police officers, who have increased patrols in the north, where there are no longer members of the police from the ranks of the Serbian community, following the decision of the Serbian List, the subject leading Kosovo Serb politician to withdraw from the country’s institutions, following disagreements over a decision by the central government in Pristina to end the use of Serbian-issued car plates.

The EULEX mission said on Monday that it is closely monitoring all developments that may have an impact on the security of Kosovo, as well as the security of all communities, while denying that it has assumed police responsibility in northern Kosovo.

Belgrade accuses Pristina of not fulfilling the agreements reached in the talks mediated by the European Union, while Pristina accuses Belgrade of using local Serbs to avoid a normalization agreement between the parties.

The West is concerned that Russia may try to foment conflict in the Western Balkans and is calling on the parties to resolve their differences in EU-facilitated talks that address their integration aspirations.The United States, the European Union and NATO have called on Kosovo and Serbia to choose the path of talks and refrain from actions that would lead to violence and clashes.

/k.s/