The European Commission said Tuesday that it expects “effective coordination and meaningful consultations” between the municipalities concerned and Kosovo’s central institutions ahead of the potential reopening of the main bridge over the Ibar River, which connects the predominantly Albanian-populated southern part of Mitrovica with the predominantly Serb-populated north.
European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper said during a press conference on August 18 that the European Union’s position on the bridge remains clear.
“We also expect effective coordination and meaningful consultations between the municipalities concerned and the central institutions of Kosovo,” Hipper said.
She also stressed the importance of ensuring security for all communities.
“We expect the Kosovo Police to guarantee the security of all communities, in line with democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law, so that everyone feels safe,” she said.
Hipper noted that the bridge is currently open to pedestrians but remains closed to vehicle traffic.
“We have made our assessment and steps have been taken in this regard. Our position remains that we still expect effective coordination and meaningful consultations, which need to be improved,” she said.
Her comments came after NATO’s Kosovo peacekeeping mission, KFOR, announced on August 10 that it had begun a “gradual transition” of its permanent presence on the bridge.
KFOR said the decision was linked to an improved security situation and that the process would be gradual and conditions-based. The mission will continue to maintain a visible presence in both northern and southern Mitrovica, as well as across northern Kosovo.
The main bridge over the Ibar has remained closed to vehicle traffic since the aftermath of the 1999 war and has for years been a focal point of ethnic tensions.
Kosovo and Serbia agreed on the opening of the bridge as part of the EU-mediated dialogue. Under an implementation plan agreed in 2016, the bridge was supposed to reopen to traffic in January 2017.
Revitalization works, costing around €1.5 million, were completed in 2018. However, the bridge has never reopened to vehicles.
In 2024, Kosovo government efforts to reopen the bridge faced opposition from local Serbs, while the international community called for any action to be carried out through consultation and coordination.
