The European Union has welcomed the Kosovo government’s declared willingness to implement the normalization agreement with Serbia, but emphasized the need for concrete actions rather than just declarations. Peter Stano, the EU spokesperson, stated that Kosovo must align its declarations with tangible steps and begin implementation immediately.
“We welcome Kosovo’s declared readiness to begin implementing the Roadmap for Normalization of Relations. We expect these declarations to be matched by concrete actions, starting immediately. Both Kosovo and Serbia must fulfill all their dialogue commitments without further delays or the imposition of new preconditions in order to make progress on their respective European paths. Failure to implement what has been agreed will affect their ability to advance their European aspirations,” Stano told RTV21.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has reiterated that Kosovo is ready to implement agreements for normalizing relations, but he has stressed that partnership in the implementation process is impossible without Serbia fully respecting the agreements.
The EU has specifically called on the Kosovo government to take concrete steps towards the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, a legal obligation for the government. However, Prime Minister Kurti has stated that Kosovo will not establish the Association, calling the European draft statute a “non-paper” with no formal signature.
The EU’s demand for concrete actions from Kosovo comes at a critical juncture in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, as both countries seek to move forward on their paths towards European integration. The EU’s facilitation of this dialogue remains crucial, but there are mounting tensions over the specifics of agreements, especially surrounding the implementation of the Association.
