Serbia has expressed concern over the removal of the Kosovo footnote in a European Union document, warning that the move could undermine the fragile trust underpinning the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina.
Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić said that the European Committee of the Regions adopted its opinion on the 2025 Enlargement Package without the footnote referencing Kosovo, raising serious concerns for Serbia.
According to Đurić, the omission contradicts the status-neutral framework that has formed the basis of the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia facilitated by the European Union.
In a post on X, the Serbian minister argued that ignoring the previously agreed reference calls into question the commitments reached through dialogue and risks undermining the fragile trust on which the process is built.
Đurić recalled that the Kosovo footnote was established in the 2012 Agreement on Regional Representation and Cooperation, brokered by the EU. The formulation references United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, aiming to maintain a balanced and status-neutral approach.
“Respect for previously agreed modalities is essential to safeguard the credibility of the dialogue and maintain trust between the parties,” Đurić said, adding that Serbia will continue to insist on a status-neutral approach across all EU institutions and levels of engagement.
The EU Committee of the Regions adopted the opinion on March 5, stating that in order to ensure institutional coherence and political clarity, and to reflect Kosovo’s European perspective, terminology should align with that used by the European Parliament, which has phased out the use of the Kosovo designation with a footnote in its public documents.
