Kosovo and Serbia’s chief negotiators, Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petković, will meet on December 17 as part of the ongoing dialogue to normalize relations between the two countries.

European Union spokesperson Anitta Hipper confirmed both parties’ participation and stated that the meeting will address various issues, including the implementation of the normalization agreement.

“This meeting will focus on a range of topics, including the implementation of the agreement towards normalization,” Hipper said.

The meeting follows heightened tensions between Kosovo and Serbia after an attack in Zubin Potok on the Ibar-Lepenc Canal, with Kosovo accusing Serbian terrorist groups and Belgrade denying involvement.

This will be the final meeting of the year and one of the last under EU envoy Miroslav Lajčak, whose mandate ends in January. The participants will work to advance the dialogue and tackle remaining challenges.

A key issue remains the uncertainty surrounding Lajčak’s successor, with the decision dependent on the stance of the new EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, who took office on December 1.

/k.s/