The European Union has requested that the Serbs in the north of Kosova participate in the population census process that started on April 5 and not to boycott the vote for the dismissal of the Albanian mayors in the four municipalities in the farthest north of Kosova. This reaction of the EU came after the statement of the Serbian List, where it said that the Serbs will not be part of the census and will boycott the vote for the dismissal of the four Albanian mayors in the municipalities in the farthest north of country with a Serbian majority.

The EU has called for the Serbs to express their views, since the dismissal of the Albanian presidents has been demanded precisely by them after the tensions created in the north of Kosova.

“It is imperative that we return to the situation where the Kosova Serbs actively participate in the local government, the police and the judiciary in the north of Kosova. We take into account the concerns expressed by the Kosova Serbs regarding the process for the new elections. Despite this, we call on the Serbian List to reconsider the decision of non-participation, as democracy means participation and the respecting of the right of Kosova Serbs to express their views at the ballot box,” the EU statement says.

The EU also said that Serbs in the north should participate in the population census and that Kosova institutions should intensify information campaigns for all residents, so that everyone has sufficient information about this process.”

According to the law, those who do not participate in the registration or refuse to provide the required information can face large financial penalties.

How did the tensions start in the north?

The Serbian List Party was part of Kosovan political life, including representation in parliament, until they resigned en masse in December 2022. This triggered new elections in the Serb-majority northern municipalities, which they also chose to boycott. The winners of the elections, the Albanian mayors, were prevented from entering their municipal buildings by local Serbs who organized mass protests. These protests erupted into violence, in which journalists, citizens and NATO KFOR troops were injured.

The European Union called on Kosova to hold new elections in the region, asking them to do so in order to de-escalate tensions with the Serbs. Kosova began the process of calling new elections last summer, starting with a referendum in which citizens must vote to remove existing mayors. For the vote to be successful, at least 50% plus one of the votes must be in favor in order to remove a mayor. After the end of the process, the result will be sent to President Vjosa Osmani, who must announce the elections within 45 days.

But the Serbian List has again said that it will not participate, despite the fact that it is part of the process they asked for.

/a.p./