The European Union has reiterated its readiness to convene a high-level meeting within the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas prepared to host the talks, although no date has been announced.
A European Commission spokesperson told Kallxo.com on October 14 that Kallas had repeatedly expressed her willingness to host such a meeting.
“As High Representative Kallas has repeatedly stated, she is ready to host a high-level meeting soon. Any future meeting will be announced in due time,” the spokesperson said.
The statement comes as Kosovo enters a new institutional phase following the constitution of its new institutions, while Serbia is approaching its early parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25. The European Commission has not provided further details about preparations or a possible date for the meeting.
The EU-facilitated dialogue aims to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, with high-level meetings intended to advance the implementation of agreements reached by the two sides.
Serwer Calls for a More Balanced EU Approach
Daniel Serwer, a professor and senior fellow at Johns Hopkins University’s Foreign Policy Institute, told Kallxo.com that progress in the dialogue depends partly on the EU’s approach, arguing that negotiations cannot advance if Brussels continues placing demands primarily on Kosovo.
“If Brussels continues to prioritize the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities without demanding anything in return from Serbia for Kosovo, the dialogue will continue to lead nowhere,” Serwer said.
He argued that the Association should not be treated as a priority until Serbia is prepared to recognize Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state and address concerns over Kosovo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Serwer also called for greater emphasis on implementing existing agreements, including the 2023 Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its implementation annex. He suggested that securing Serbia’s signature on the normalization agreement could provide a starting point for the next phase of the process.
EU Urges Both Sides to Implement Existing Agreements
In its 2025 Kosovo Report, the European Commission said domestic political concerns on both sides had hindered decisive progress in implementing the 2023 agreement and its annex. It stressed that normalization remains a key condition for both countries’ European integration.
The report called on Kosovo and Serbia to fulfil their respective obligations under the agreement and previous dialogue commitments. It also said the two sides had, at various times, taken actions inconsistent with their commitments.
Regarding Kosovo, the Commission cited police operations against Serbia-supported structures in the north, the arrest and deportation of Kosovo citizens working for Serbian security structures, and the construction of two new bridges in Mitrovica near the main bridge. The report said these actions were not in line with the spirit of normalization.
Regarding Serbia, the Commission cited its lobbying against Kosovo’s membership in international organizations and a lack of sufficient action to ensure accountability for the September 24, 2023, armed attack in Banjska against Kosovo Police.
The report also called for progress on the 2023 Political Declaration on Missing Persons, urging both sides to avoid politicizing the humanitarian issue and to begin implementing their commitments through the establishment of a joint commission.
Kurti and Vučić Maintain Different Conditions
Kosovo’s dialogue with Serbia is led by the government headed by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, while Serbia is represented by President Aleksandar Vučić.
Kurti has said that three conditions he presented during the last high-level dialogue meeting in Brussels are necessary to ensure progress. They include the handover to Kosovo authorities of Milan Radoičić and his group, which Kosovo authorities link to the armed attack in Banjska; Serbia’s signature on the normalization agreement; and the withdrawal of a letter sent by former Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić.
Vučić, meanwhile, has insisted that Kosovo’s establishment of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities is a precondition for further progress in the dialogue.
The two leaders agreed in 2023, in Brussels and Ohrid, to implement the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its annex. The agreement envisages normal neighbourly relations, mutual recognition of relevant documents and national symbols, and a level of self-management for the Serb community in Kosovo. It also requires implementation of previous agreements reached through the EU-facilitated dialogue.
However, implementation of the agreement remains incomplete.
Kosovo and Serbia have been engaged in EU-mediated talks aimed at normalizing relations since 2011. The process initially focused on technical issues before expanding to high-level political negotiations.
