German lawmaker Peter Beyer has warned that a change of government in Serbia does not necessarily mean a shift in Belgrade’s policy toward Kosovo, calling on both sides to implement the agreements reached through the EU-facilitated dialogue.
Beyer made the remarks after meeting on Monday with the European Union’s special representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Peter Sørensen. Their discussions focused on the outcome of Serbia’s parliamentary elections, the victory of the student-backed Students’ List and the defeat of Aleksandar Vučić’s ruling political camp, according to Gazeta Express.
Beyer stressed that both Kosovo and Serbia now have a responsibility to fulfill their commitments under the Brussels and Ohrid agreements.
“Both countries are now in a position of responsibility. They must fulfill the obligations arising from the Brussels and Ohrid agreements,” Beyer wrote.
Regarding Kosovo, the German lawmaker said Prishtina should establish the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities, which he described as a commitment Kosovo had made.
“ Kosovo must guarantee the self-governance promised to the Serb community,” he said.
Beyer also emphasized that normalization requires efforts from both sides, warning against an approach in which each party waits for the other to make the first move.
“Both sides must be willing to move closer to one another. Normalization does not work if each side expects the other to take the first step while remaining satisfied with itself and its so-called achievements,” he wrote.
His remarks come after Serbia’s October 25 parliamentary elections, in which the Students’ List defeated the political camp led by Vučić, opening a new chapter in Serbian politics.
However, Beyer’s comments underline that the electoral change in Belgrade does not, by itself, guarantee progress in relations with Kosovo.
The implementation of existing agreements and the willingness of both governments to make compromises are likely to remain central challenges in the EU-led normalization process.
