The European Union has made it clear that it requires Kosovo and Serbia to urgently begin the implementation of the Brussels Agreement and the Ohrid Annex. A few days ago, the leaders of Kosovo stated that Serbia has withdrawn from this agreement. Meanwhile, experts in political developments in the country say that failure to respect this agreement blocks Kosovo’s path to EU integration.
“Serbia must return to the agreement, respect it so that we can implement it,” Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti told Voice of America.
In a similar request to that of Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and earlier by President Vjosa Osmani, the European Union has also demanded the implementation of the agreements reached both in Brussels and in Ohrid.
However, the EU does not exclude either party. According to Brussels officials, both Kosovo and Serbia urgently need to start implementing the annex reached in Ohrid, North Macedonia, as well as those reached in Brussels.
“The EU’s position on the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement is very clear, it has been communicated to all involved on several occasions, and it has not changed: the implementation of this Agreement and its annex must start urgently. Progress in this direction is closely linked to progress on the path to EU membership for Kosovo and Serbia,” said Peter Stano, the EU spokesperson, to RTV Dukagjini.
Meanwhile, political analyst Afrim Kasolli says that the failure to implement this agreement keeps Kosovo hostage.
“Since the failure to become a member of the Council of Europe, it is clear that Kosovo remains hostage to the Euro-integration agenda without fulfilling the obligations arising from the Brussels Agreement and the implementation annex in Ohrid,” Kasolli said.
According to former diplomat Blerim Canaj, the pressure for the implementation of this agreement will increase for both countries.
“Naturally, there will be pressure because, after all, the agreement is more with the EU than with Serbia, because we made the agreement and the implementation should be done by them,” Canaj said.
The document known as the Basic Agreement requires the parties to develop normal good neighborly relations. Both parties are required to respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The parties are also required to recognize each other’s relevant documents and national symbols, including passports, diplomas, vehicle license plates, and customs stamps. For the authorities in Kosovo, this point implies that Serbia de facto recognizes Kosovo’s statehood.
