EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said Brussels is waiting for a new government in Pristina before engaging more deeply with Kosovo on dialogue with Serbia.

In an interview with Radio Free Europe’s Balkan Service, Kos repeated the EU’s position: normalization of relations is a condition for both Kosovo and Serbia on their path to EU membership.

She stressed that Brussels is working on this issue together with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. “We remain engaged with Serbia, but less with Kosovo in recent months. We are still waiting for a new government there. However, this remains one of our priorities in the Western Balkans process,” Kos said in Sarajevo.

Kosovo and Serbia have been in EU-facilitated dialogue since 2011. At first, the talks focused on technical issues. Later, they moved to the political level.

So far, the sides have reached several agreements. But many remain unimplemented on the ground.

Since the elections in February, Kosovo has not yet formed a new executive. Meanwhile, caretaker institutions continue to lead. During this period, Brussels still hosted rounds of talks at chief negotiator level. The last one took place on September 11 but ended without results.

In contrast, political-level dialogue has stalled since September 2023. The last meeting happened just before the armed attack in Banjska, Zvečan, in which a Kosovo policeman was killed. Kosovo blames Serbia for the attack, while Belgrade denies involvement.

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas admitted the process has stalled since she took over EU diplomacy this year. She said Brussels is considering new tools to move forward. Later, she added that the EU is reviewing mistakes made in the dialogue.

Kos is currently visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina. During her three-day trip, she met state officials, NGOs, and youth representatives. She ruled out a meeting with Milorad Dodik, stripped of his mandate as president of Republika Srpska, though he still claims leadership.

Kos underlined that Republika Srpska is essential for progress in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We need Republika Srpska to move forward with the whole country. This was possible in the past, and I believe it will be possible again. Republika Srpska is more than its politicians. Its people deserve a better future,” she said.

She also insisted that EU membership for Bosnia and Herzegovina is necessary. Yet, the next steps lie in the hands of local leaders.

“The EU is not a charity. These are taxpayers’ funds. We must act responsibly. Bosnia’s leadership must implement reforms that deliver real benefits to citizens,” Kos said.

Finally, she stressed that the EU respects Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity and constitutional order. But she warned the country must become strong enough to function without international oversight.

“Only then will Bosnia and Herzegovina be able to join the EU,” she concluded.

/a.c/