Obligations From Brussels, Ohrid Agreements Now Part of Chapter 35 of Negotiations Between Serbia, EU

Ohrid (BETAPHOTO/EMIL VAS)

The EU's ambassadors have adopted amendments and supplements to Chapter 35 in accession talks with Serbia which require that Serbia meet its obligations stemming from its agreements with Kosovo last year in Brussels and Ohrid.

Consent was unanimous at a meeting of ambassadors late on April 15, Radio Free Europe has reported, citing diplomatic source.

This means that Serbia's obligations stemming from the Brussels and Ohrid agreements are now a part of Serbia's EU accession process.

The harmonized text states, among other things, that progress in Serbia's negotiations on membership in the EU will be led by Serbia's progress in preparing for accession, "Which will be specially measured with regard to Serbia's continuous engagement towards a visible and sustainable improvement in relations with Kosovo, as well as the other demands contained in article 23 of the negotiating framework."

The text, which Radio Free Europe examined, also states that Serbia must fully implement its obligations as part of the Agreement on the road to normalization between Kosovo and Serbia, according to its Annex for implementation, which was agreed on on March 18, 2023.

The text is supposed to be confirmed on April 22 by the EU Foreign Affairs Council after which it will be officially presented to Belgrade as the EU's new negotiating position for Chapter 35.