Von Cramon Expects Progress In Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue After Elections

Viola Von Cramon (YouTube snapshot)

The European Parliament’s rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, has assessed that the forthcoming elections in Belgrade and Pristina would influence the Brussels dialogue and that both leaders, Aleksandar Vucic and Albin Kurti, would be very cautious in the steps they take, but added that she hoped there would be progress in the dialogue after the elections. 

“This is a very long process and we see we have elections in both countries. In that period, it is very difficult for the domestic public to accept some deeper reforms or major changes. I see there is progress in that regard. Both leaders are meeting and I would call that a success. We must see if we are making progress and we in the EU would like that to be quicker,” she told Television N1 in the evening of Aug. 9. 

The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is expected to resume in Brussels in September and, as Von Cramon stressed, she expected Vucic and Kurti to demonstrate leadership, since both of them enjoy significant parliamentary support, as well as that of the electorate. 

Von Cramon stated that Kurti was a new figure in the premier’s office, that he had ambitious domestic plans and that he wanted to do away with old habits and old corruption patterns. 

Commenting on Vucic, she said that the EU did not see reforms on the domestic plane in Serbia and that reforms and progress were necessary in the sector of the judiciary and prosecution. 

“The government knows all that, but we must broaden the perspective regarding pluralism, media freedom for the opposition. Instead, space is being reduced for the activists, the opposition, NGOs and independent media. And that is important in the context of Serbia’s European integration,” she stated.