The relationship between Serbia and Kosovo is difficult and tense. Now both sides met in Brussels for talks – but without results. SRF foreign editor Janis Fahrländer knows the background.
What was the aim of the meeting in Brussels?
First and foremost, both sides should start talking to each other again after months of silence. Talks on implementing the normalization agreement that both sides had verbally agreed to this year should be resumed. But nothing moved there. The ongoing tense situation in northern Kosovo is also likely to have been part of the talks.
Legend:
Josep Borrell from the EU (left) receives the Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
Keystone/Virginia Mayo
After the talks, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell accused Kosovo of preventing normalization of relations with Serbia. “It was not possible to bridge the differences today,” said Borrell. Kurti is not prepared to grant municipalities with a Serb majority an umbrella organization and more autonomy.
Kurti insisted that before granting more autonomy to Serbian communities, Serbia must recognize Kosovo, Borrell said. He suggested to Kurti and Vucic that both steps – the establishment of a community association and the recognition of Kosovo – be implemented in parallel. Vucic accepted the proposal, but Kurti rejected it. Kurti accused the EU of being partial. She has adopted Serbia’s position. Vucic demanded that the talks must continue.
The problems between Belgrade and Pristina mainly affect the north of Kosovo, where a Serb minority lives. In the spring there were violent riots that were sparked by controversial elections for local authorities. Therefore, the normalization agreement between the two countries was put on hold. (Reuters)
How willing are the two parties to ease the situation?
It seems to be rather deep – both sides made accusations in the run-up to the meeting. In addition, both Vucic and Kurti benefit from the current status quo. Vucic repeatedly uses the conflict with Kosovo to distract from problems in his own country. He is also using the situation as a means of pressure against the West. So he doesn’t care much about a permanent solution.
Kurti benefits from the fact that the focus is currently on de-escalation and no one is talking about the normalization agreement. Years ago, Kosovo committed itself to granting the Serbian minority more autonomy in the form of a community association. But Kurti himself always fought this during his time as opposition leader of the community association and should therefore be happy not to have to implement the promise.
What could help calm the situation?
The current tensions in the north have been triggered by four new, controversial mayors. The Albanian-born politicians have little democratic legitimacy because of the Serbian population’s boycott of elections. All sides actually agree that new elections are needed in the communities concerned. But while Serbia, as well as the West, insist on new elections as soon as possible, Kosovo says new elections cannot simply be called. And: Without lasting normalization between Kosovo and Serbia, even after successful new elections, it should not be long before the conflict comes to a head again on another issue.
Can the EU put pressure on Belgrade and Pristina?
Not really. Although the EU mediates between the two sides, it has little opportunity to enforce the implementation of agreements. It cannot threaten any of the countries with negative consequences in the accession process. None of the countries have any prospects of joining the EU in the foreseeable future, and that is clear to everyone involved. If anything, the EU can put pressure on Kosovo – it does so by freezing funds.
Serbia, on the other hand, repeatedly plays with the West about its proximity to China and Russia – and thus wrests concessions. Many therefore see the normalization agreement at an end and are calling for a new beginning. However, this only makes sense if both sides show an honest willingness to actually implement existing agreements and make compromises – but this is currently lacking.