Thewesternbalkans.
More than 13 years have passed since the EU-mediated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia began. However, the parties involved have yet to reach a final agreement.
The parliamentary elections on February 9, 2025, mark an important milestone in Kosovo’s political development. These will be the first regular parliamentary elections since the country declared independence in 2008.
The opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK-NISMA) coalition have all published their election platforms, while the ruling party, the Self-Determination Movement (“Vetevendosje” – VETËV), has yet to do so.
In the published platforms, foreign policy takes a backseat, with the dialogue with Serbia largely absent. Instead, the main focus is on strengthening relations with allies, restoring Kosovo’s international recognition, and securing membership in global organizations.
Regardless of which party or coalition forms the next government after the February 9 elections, the dialogue on normalizing relations with Serbia will remain on the agenda. This process, initiated in 2011, is essential for both countries as they progress toward EU integration.
The Democratic Party of Kosovo has stated that, if it comes to power, it will commit to fulfilling the obligations of previously signed agreements. However, the party proposes a complete restructuring of the dialogue process. “This includes the democratization and institutionalization of Kosovo’s representation, the adoption of a clear platform in the Parliament of Kosovo, and the creation of an inclusive structure,” the PDK states in its program, emphasizing the inclusion of civil society, citizens, and businesses. The PDK aims to finalize an agreement that includes mutual recognition by 2026.
The Democratic League of Kosovo also prioritizes mutual recognition through dialogue. “This dialogue is not only with Serbia but also with the broader international community, particularly the Euro-Atlantic alliance,” the LDK’s program states. Their ultimate goal is mutual recognition, which they see as a crucial step toward NATO and EU membership.
The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, in its election program, asserts that “the conclusion of the dialogue with Serbia through mutual recognition must dismantle the foundations of autonomy for Serb-majority municipalities, which the current government of Kosovo has either established through its actions or failed to prevent through inaction.”
In the run-up to the elections, Kosovo’s political parties are not focusing on implementing the obligations outlined in the Ohrid Agreement. Instead, they expect external actors to drive the process forward, while blaming international mediators for their ineffective approach.
Kosovo’s political elites hope that Estonia’s Kaja Kallas, as the new head of EU foreign policy, will take a tougher stance on Serbia than her predecessor, Josep Borrell, and help revive the stalled dialogue.
Although the UN initially mandated the EU to facilitate the dialogue through a resolution, the dynamic shifted when former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell was appointed as President Trump’s special envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in October 2019.
Now, with Trump as the newly elected U.S. president, he has declared little interest in the Balkans. However, Richard Grenell, Trump’s special envoy for strategic missions, has immediately reengaged in Kosovo’s political landscape, favoring opposition parties. “Kurti picked political fights and took unilateral actions. He brought Kosovo-U.S. relations to a low point. He was condemned by European leaders, NATO, and Joe Biden’s team,” Grenell wrote on X.
Such statements on social media could influence the outcome of the upcoming elections.
