EU Hints at Symbolic Measures against Kosovo, Cancelling Donor Conference for Serbia, Kosovo

Kosovo delegation in Ohrid , March 18 2023 (BETAPHOTO/EMIL VAS)

The European Union (EU) has suggested “symbolic” measures against Pristina, after the EU and U.S. envoy described as “difficult” talks with the Kosovo premier on how to de-escalate the situation in the north of Kosovo, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reported on June 9.

Several sources close to the talks have confirmed for the RFE that for failing to take steps toward de-escalation the first and immediate measure against the authorities in Kosovo is to cancel a meeting between the European Commission and Kosovo in a subcommittee as part of the Stabilization and Association Agreement. The cancellation would be a way for Brussels to demonstrate its discontent over Pristina’s failure to respect international calls for de-escalation in Kosovo’s north.

Apart from this symbolic measure, there could be another against both parties in the dialogue for the failure of both the Kosovo prime minister and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to implement the Ohrid agreement.

The EU's member states have agreed that at this point there is no room for talks on organizing a donor conference for Serbia and Kosovo according to an agreement reached by their leaders in Brussels, on Feb. 27, and an implementation annex approved in Ohrid, on March 18. As neither party implemented a single point of the agreement, there is no will, at this point, to hold the donor conference.