EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has signaled that the European Union (EU) is considering alternative tools in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. This move comes after the stalled negotiations and is seen as an attempt to push the two countries toward normalizing relations.
While the exact instruments that could be used remain unclear, experts in the dialogue process emphasize that the EU needs to change its approach, as previous strategies have yielded little progress.
Kallas, who is scheduled to visit the Western Balkans next week, will not visit Kosovo, but she will meet with officials in Montenegro, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kallas recently stated that the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue has stagnated, and the EU is collecting ideas to create a proposal for full normalization of relations between the two nations.
Alma Lama, a former Kosovo diplomat, sees Kallas’ new energy and perspective as a potential catalyst for practical results. She highlighted the EU’s failure to impose meaningful consequences on Serbia, despite its non-compliance with agreements such as the Brussels Agreement and the Ohër Annex. Lama also mentioned that EU conditionality on Serbia’s EU accession and funding could serve as effective leverage if used correctly.
On the other hand, political analyst Seb Bytyçi argues that Kallas should apply more political pressure on Serbia, which has been reluctant to implement agreements. Bytyçi suggests that if the EU resorts to economic conditionality, it may not benefit Kosovo, as the focus should be on recognition from the EU and treating the agreements as a done deal rather than continuing to delay the process.
The EU-mediated agreement between Kosovo and Serbia in February 2023, and the subsequent annex in March 2023, have yet to be fully implemented. Kosovo officials continue to accuse Serbia of violating the agreements, with the situation intensifying in December 2023, when Serbia sent a letter to Brussels stating it had red lines regarding the implementation of the normalization agreement.
