Relations between Kosovo and Serbia will be the topic of discussion at the summit of EU heads of state or government, which will take place on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.
At the end of this summit, conclusions are expected to be approved, where support will also be given to the European proposal for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
In the draft of the conclusions, it is requested that the obligations from the agreements of 2013 and 2015 be fully and unconditionally implemented, including the one for the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority.

Kosovo is being pressured by the USA and the EU for the establishment of the Association. Kosovo and Serbia have reached agreement on the Association in 2013 and then in 2015 on the principles for its establishment.

In 2015, the Constitutional Court of Kosovo found that the agreement is not in full harmony with the Constitution. The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, who until now has strongly opposed the creation of a single-ethnic Association, on February 2 revealed to the deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo the six conditions for its formation.

Further, in the draft conclusions it is stated that the European Council “in light of recent developments in the north of Kosovo, underlines the urgent need for progress in the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia through dialogue facilitated by the EU, led by the High Representative of the EU”.

“The Council of the EU welcomes the European proposal to establish relations between the two parties on a new and stable basis as a historic occasion, which should be used by both parties in order to realize their European perspective”, reads the text of the conclusions.

The EU proposal for the normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations was submitted to the two countries at the end of the summer of last year, but its contents have not been made public.

This proposal, to which REL had access, foresees equal rights for Kosovo and Serbia, respect for territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, recognition of state symbols and a special arrangement for the Serbian community in Kosovo.

The document does not mention the mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia or Kosovo’s membership in the United Nations Organization – which Kosovar officials publicly insist on – but emphasizes the support that the parties should give each other in the process of European integration.

Kosovo and Serbia have been holding dialogue under the mediation of the EU – which also has the support of the USA – since 2011. The process aims to normalize relations between the states. However, Kosovo and Serbia have different views regarding the end of the process.

While Prishtina demands that the final agreement should include mutual recognition, Belgrade insists on a compromise solution, without specifying what kind of compromise it is.

/k.s/