Thewesternbalkans
On 15 March 2024, in Belgrade, the special EU envoy to the Western Balkans Miroaslav Lajcak and the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučič discussed the continuation of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue regarding the possibilities of continuing the talks in Brussels. This is what Vucic announced through a post on his Instagram account. “We examined all possibilities and topics for the continuation of constructive talks in Brussels, as well as talked about the necessary steps for progress towards the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. I again called on the international community to engage concretely and decisively in matters of fundamental importance for the survival of the Serbian people in Kosovo and for regional stability”.
Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia increased again on February 1, when the Central Bank of Kosovo started implementing its regulation that foresees the euro as the sole currency for making payments, banning the use of the Serbian dinar. The Serbian state allocates millions of euros to Serbs in Kosovo after paying them in dinars – through a parallel system – salaries, pensions and additional assistance.
The EU demands that a solution be found for this issue within the dialogue, but the Government in Pristina has argued that the CBK regulation is a “technical issue” that should not be included in the political dialogue for the normalization of relations with Serbia. Belgrade, meanwhile, seeks a political solution to the Serbian dinar issue.
The EU has announced that on March 19 in Brussels, at the level of chief negotiators, Kosovo and Serbia will discuss the issue of the dinar. The European Union, but also the United States, have criticized the decision on the dinar, saying that it was taken without prior consultation and without considering the negative impacts it has on the Serbian community. Washington has asked Kosovo to postpone and suspend the decision, but so far the Government of Kosovo has not shown signs that it will withdraw from this regulation.
In the same time the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, asked Kosovo and Serbia to implement all the agreements reached in the dialogue mediated by the European Union. He said that the dialogue process in Brussels, supported by the United States, is the only mechanism for Kosovo and Serbia to normalize relations.
During a press conference in Vienna, together with his Austrian counterpart, Alexander Schallenberg, the American top diplomat said: “We are working together with Austria to improve relations between Kosovo and Serbia. EU-mediated dialogue is the only viable mechanism, the only way forward. We must see efforts in good faith and constructive efforts from both sides, from Kosovo and Serbia, to stabilize their relations and move towards this path. To keep tensions at a low level, increase coordination, increase transparency with international partners and implement all dialogue commitments”.
Comment: Last year, the European Commission has announced that Kosovo and Serbia reached an Agreement on the way to normalizing relations. This agreement, of 11 articles, among other things, foresees a level of self-management for the Serbian community in Kosovo and mutual recognition of the state symbols, while asking Pristina and Belgrade to also implement all previous agreements reached during dialogue.
One year after the European Commission’s announcement of the agreement reached, neither Serbia nor Kosovo is making any attempt to implement this agreement. Apparently, both sides have shown good will in Brussels at the beginning of last year, but their national interests at this moment do not allow progress on the matter.
The USA and the European Union constantly call on Kosovo and Serbia to engage in the Brussels dialogue and implement all the agreements reached so far.
