The European Union’s spokesperson, Peter Stano, provided an update on the status of the 2023 joint declaration between Kosovo and Serbia regarding missing persons, emphasizing that the implementation is still pending.
In his latest media briefing, Stano explained that the joint declaration, signed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in May 2023, aimed to address the issue of missing persons and provide a clear path for the exchange of information and the identification of burial sites. However, Stano noted that the implementation of these agreements has not yet begun.
“This is an extremely important issue for the people involved, particularly for the families of the missing, and we are still waiting for the two sides to agree on the specific terms for establishing the joint commission,” Stano said. The declaration includes provisions for joint excavations and the identification of missing persons, but its full implementation remains unresolved.
Stano further highlighted that the matter was discussed during the October 24 meeting in Brussels, but despite the ongoing talks, no concrete progress has been made in finalizing the terms. The EU continues to push for further responses from both sides, with the hope of advancing the process soon.
“While no agreement has been reached yet, we remain optimistic that it is achievable. We are awaiting responses on certain aspects of the terms of reference, and we hope to move forward quickly,” Stano added. He emphasized that the issue of missing persons carries a deeply human element, and it is essential to make progress as soon as possible for the affected families in both Kosovo and Serbia.
The EU continues to offer its full support for the dialogue process and encourages both parties to prioritize the resolution of this sensitive issue.
