EU: If the situation does not change, the measures against Kosovo may be toughened

2024-08-08 13:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

EU: If the situation does not change, the measures against Kosovo may be

Peter Stano

The European Union hopes that Kosovo will listen to the message of the bloc and other international partners regarding the recent decisions, which have been described as unilateral and uncoordinated.

The spokesperson of the EU, Peter Stano, said that the bloc has made clear its position regarding the closure of the nine branches of the Post of Serbia in Kosovo by the authorities, but also the intention of the Government of Kosovo to open the bridge over the Iber River to traffic.

He said that the punitive measures against Kosovo, imposed in June last year due to increased tensions in the north, are still in force.

"Instead of steps that would lead to the reduction of tensions, more and more unilateral steps and decisions have been taken that lead to escalation. We said earlier that the measures are progressive, they can be toughened or eased depending on the development of the situation. This part touches on the first part of the question, what are we going to do [after the recent decisions of the authorities in Kosovo]. So, we have measures in force and these measures can be toughened if all the actors of the EU agree on such a thing", said Stano.

The high representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, in June, through a report sent to the member states, had recommended the removal of punitive measures against Kosovo. At home, diplomatic sources told Radio Free Europe that there is no full agreement in the bloc for the lifting of the punitive measures imposed on Kosovo. But, as a compromise, it is expected that these measures will be partially and gradually removed.

The measures against Kosovo were decided a year ago as a response to the escalation of the security situation in the north of Kosovo, when the Albanian mayors - emerging from the elections that were boycotted by the local Serbs - began their duties in the municipalities in the north.

Stano said that the European bloc has conveyed the position of the Government of Kosovo in many ways and it is not only the EU that is opposing the recent decisions of the Kosovar authorities.

"Practically all the international partners of Kosovo are telling the administration in Pristina not to engage in this series of uncoordinated, uniform and negative steps. I hope they will finally listen to our message and stop us from considering what kinds of measures we would put in response [to Kosovo] if the situation does not change," Stano said.

On November 5, authorities in Kosovo closed nine branches of the Post of Serbia, saying they were operating in northern Kosovo without a license.

In addition to the EU, the United States also criticized this decision. Washington said that Kosovo's uncoordinated actions "face Kosovo citizens and KFOR soldiers with great danger, fuel unnecessary escalation of regional tensions, and undermine Kosovo's reputation as a reliable international partner."

The international community is also opposing the opening of the bridge over the Ibër River, which the Government of Kosovo intends to open for traffic.

The QUINT states – the US, UK, Germany, France and Italy – declared on August 2 that they do not support the opening of the bridge at this time.

NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, declared that any decision on the opening of the main bridge over the Iber River should be taken within the framework of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

This mission has reiterated that it will not hesitate to take "all the necessary measures" to combat developments that may threaten regional security and stability.

Italian soldiers as part of the KFOR mission are on the bridge over the Ibër river, while members of the Kosovo Police are also nearby.

In the post-war period, the bridge over the Iber River was a symbol of the riots and barricades erected by Kosovo Serbs to oppose Kosovo's efforts to establish authority in the north.

The bridge is currently only open for pedestrians, although in the framework of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, it has been agreed that it should also be opened for vehicle traffic. /REL