New Pressure on Belgrade

Albin Kurti (Photo: European Commissionl/Claudio Centonze)

A recent move by the Central Bank of Kosovo, which has made the euro the sole means of payment in Kosovo as of Feb. 1, is Pristina’s new pressure on Belgrade and on the Kosovo Serbs. This is one of a number of moves by Kosovo Premier Albin Kurti made with the aim to complete Kosovo’s statehood (relative to Serbia), which the authorities in Belgrade did not respond strongly to this time. The reason is probably that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is counting on his cooperative approach to the matter of Kosovo to help him avoid a tougher stance of the European Union regarding irregularities in the December elections.