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“Routine” meetings of Sørensen
What is happening with the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue? – EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Peter Sørensen knows this best. On April 24 and 25, he made unannounced visits to Pristina and Belgrade, after which he left for Brussels without making any statements.
Sorensen’s plans were clear in advance: the renewal of technical-level dialogue between the two parties. However, the moment is hardly the most suitable for both parties: in Kosovo two and a half months after the elections, the parliament has not yet been constituted, and the government has not been formed, and in Serbia there are student protests and President Vučić is under additional pressure from the EU due to his proximity to Moscow. And the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo is currently at a standstill, because both sides only blame each other.
The technocrat Sørensen will most likely concentrate on routine work with a focus on “the implementation of various agreements at the technical level”. It is significant that Sørensen’s visit to Pristina and Belgrade took place immediately after his participation in the next meeting of the Working Group on Integrated Border Management. He may use the activation of this WG as a prelude to resuming dialogue.
This was Sørensen’s second visit to Kosovo and Serbia since he took office in early February.
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In Pristina, Sørensen held talks with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Besnik Bislimi, Kosovo’s chief negotiator, and in Belgrade – with Foreign Minister Marko Đurić, Minister of European Integration Nemanja Starović and Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija and chief negotiator Petar Petkovic.
After meeting Bislimi, Sørensen only briefly told journalists in Pristina that he had come for a visit within the framework of his mandate and announced his departure for Belgrade.
“We are working, that’s all,” he said, describing his meetings as routine.
During his stay in Pristina in mid-March, Sørensen said that his priority would be to secure a meeting between representatives of Kosovo and Serbia. According to him, the parties themselves would then decide on any possible compromises. “The dialogue is there to ensure that the meetings take place. Whether that means compromises or not is up to the parties to decide,” Sørensen said at the time.
Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the head of European diplomacy, said that “we have to keep in mind the ultimate goal – the normalization of relations, so that both sides can move forward on their European paths. Maybe that will be done through dialogue, maybe through some other instrument.” She indicated that she was ready to explore options and that she would do so with the Special Representative.
Following his meeting with Sørensen in Belgrade on 25 April, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić, noted that Belgrade consistently supported the process of normalization of relations and that it shared a common interest with the EU in progress in that process.
Đurić said more attention must be devoted to the situation on the ground as Pristina’s unilateral actions and a negative political climate generated in that way had posed the biggest threat and obstacle to productive dialogue.
Djuric voiced special concern over politically motivated court proceedings against the Serbs, which he noted were aimed at creating an atmosphere of legal and existential uncertainty amongst the Serb population in Kosovo-Metohija, and appealed to the EU to use its influence to prevent that type of political persecution.
Sørensen’s talks in the two capitals were held in a constructive atmosphere – the focus was on the next steps within the Dialogue. An agreement in principle was reached to expand the agenda of the discussions within the Working Group on Integrated Border Management. The next meetings of the WG are planned to discuss non-tariff trade barriers, improving the functioning of existing border crossings and possibly building new ones.
Sørensen is expected to initiate new meetings with the two chief negotiators – Bislimi and Petković, with the aim of organizing a meeting between them as soon as possible, perhaps as early as June 2025.
The last meeting in Brussels, with the mediation of the EU, between Kosovo and Serbia, took place on 17 December 2024.
The Working Group as a catalyst for dialogue
The Working Group (WG) on Integrated Border Management (IBM) between Serbia and Kosovo plays a pivotal role in enhancing cross-border cooperation, ensuring security, and facilitating the free movement of people and goods. Expert discussions were also held on issues of harmonization of veterinary certificates, which is of important importance from the point of view of trade between the two countries.
Established under the EU-facilitated dialogue, the IBM agreement was signed on December 2, 2011. The mandate of the Working Group on Integrated Border Management, established in 2015, includes issues of a trade-economic nature, trade barriers, border crossings, etc. Despite differing interpretations—Serbia views the boundary as an administrative line, while Kosovo considers it a state border—the agreement led to the creation of joint crossing points at six locations: Merdarë/Merdare, Bërnjak/Brnjak, Mutivodë/Mutivode, Jarinjë/Jarinje, Dheu i Bardhë/Konqul, and Mucibabë/Depce. A technical protocol signed in February 2012 detailed the implementation, including customs, police, and phytosanitary cooperation.
Since the adoption of the freedom of movement agreement, there has been a significant increase in cross-border travel. From 2017 to 2021, over 23 million crossings were recorded.
The WG’s activities align with the EU’s Western Balkans agenda, aiming to harmonize legislation with EU standards and promote regional stability. The EU’s Action Plan on the Western Balkans emphasizes the importance of IBM in regional cooperation. By aligning border management practices with EU standards, both countries move closer to EU integration. In June 2024, the EU and Serbia signed an agreement enhancing cooperation with Frontex, allowing joint operations and deployment of personnel to manage migration and border security.
WG meetings usually take place in a constructive environment, due to the expert nature of the discussions.
Despite technical agreements, political disagreements have hindered full implementation. Issues like the recognition of documents and administrative procedures have caused delays. Incidents such as the seizure of weapon caches and clashes in Serb-majority areas have led to temporary suspensions of cooperation and heightened tensions.
