“We have a deal!” Wrote the EU’s Western Balkans Representative, Miroslav Lajcak, on Twitter on Thursday. After two days of intensive negotiations, an agreement to de-escalate tensions had been reached. Kosovo promised to withdraw special police units from the border and lift roadblocks.
This initially seems to have averted the danger of a violent escalation. According to the declaration made by Lajcak, the NATO-led KFOR protection force is supposed to ensure a “safe environment and freedom of movement”. A working group with the participation of EU representatives is to work out a permanent solution within six months.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen mediated between the two governments on a trip to Pristina and Belgrade. Talks with negotiators from both sides were held in Brussels at the same time. The situation had worsened considerably just over a week ago after Kosovo no longer recognized Serbian license plates.