The latest round of talks between Kosovo and Serbia, facilitated by the European Union in Brussels, has concluded without any agreement reached, prolonging the deadlock over the contentious issue of the Serbian dinar.
On Thursday, negotiators from both sides failed to bridge their differences, with Kosovo’s chief negotiator, Besnik Bislimi, highlighting the lack of constructive proposals from the Serbian delegation. Bislimi noted that while the Serbian side presented their own suggestions, they failed to engage meaningfully with the initial proposal put forth by EU envoy Miroslav Lajčák.
Petar Petković, Serbia’s chief negotiator, expressed Belgrade’s commitment to finding a solution but criticized Kosovo for its apparent reluctance to engage with the EU’s ideas. He emphasized the need for compromise but lamented Kosovo’s failure to demonstrate sufficient willingness to reach an agreement.
In a departure from previous meetings, Thursday’s discussions did not involve a trilateral format, with Lajčák holding separate meetings with each negotiator. The absence of a unified dialogue underscored the entrenched divisions between the two parties.
Central to the impasse is Kosovo’s recent decision to enforce a regulation mandating the use of the euro as the sole currency for transactions, effectively banning the Serbian dinar. This move has elicited strong objections from Serbia, which provides financial assistance to the Serbian population in Kosovo.
Despite international calls for Kosovo to suspend the regulation to allow for adjustment, the issue remains unresolved, exacerbating tensions between the neighboring states. Recent incidents, including border blockades by Serbia affecting travelers from Kosovo and the detention of Kosovo police officials, have further strained relations.
The failure to make progress in Brussels underscores the complexity of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and the deep-seated obstacles to reconciliation. With no breakthrough achieved, the prospects for resolving the dinar issue and advancing broader normalization efforts remain uncertain.
As both sides return to their respective capitals, the focus now shifts to future rounds of negotiations and the potential for renewed diplomatic efforts to break the deadlock. However, the entrenched positions and divergent interests of Kosovo and Serbia continue to present formidable challenges to peace and stability in the region.
