EU Commission chastises Kosovo, Serbia for lack of progress; says bloc integration ‘at risk’

Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Ohrid agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, the European Commission has bemoaned both sides’ failure to implement their obligations, while Serbian President Aleksander Vucic doubled down on his opposition to Pristina joining the Council of Europe.

The Ohrid agreement sealed last March and its annexe were supposed to pave the way for the normalisation of relations between the two countries.

“For the first time during the Dialogue facilitated by the EU, the parties agreed on clear parameters that define the trajectory of the process for the normalisation of their relations. This Agreement and its implementation will clearly show that the future of both partners is in the European Union,” a statement from the EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell published on Sunday reads.

However, since then, tensions repeatedly flared up again with the alleged kidnapping of three Kosovo police officers by Serbia and the EU-dubbed “terrorist attack” in Banjska on 24 September, led by Milan Radoicic, former vice president of the Belgrade-backed Kosovo Serb political party Serbian List.

“It is unfortunate that despite the many efforts of the EU and the wider international community, there has been very limited progress so far by both Kosovo and Serbia in implementing the obligations they have accepted under the agreement,” the statement added.

The agreement was not signed as Vucic refused, while the EU side insists that it is binding in entirety, sans signatures, under international law.

Serbia formally refuses to abide by EU-brokered agreements with Kosovo

Serbia has formally refused to comply with the various agreements made between Kosovo and Serbia, brokered by the EU to normalise relations, with Prime Minister Ana Brnabić sending a letter to this effect to the European External Action Service on …

In December, Serbia’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabic wrote to the Commission formally confirming that Belgrade would not abide by the obligations and conditions of the agreements.

Brnabic said, among other things, that Serbia would not accept Kosovo’s membership of any UN organisation or any other factor that might imply its independence.

The letter also laid down Serbia’s position that the agreements are not legally binding in any way and that Kosovo remains a part of Serbia.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has repeatedly asked Vucic to sign the agreement, most recently at the United Nations Security Council Meeting, but he was rejected.

Vucic refuses to sign EU agreements with Kosovo during showdown at UN Security Council

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti again called on Serbian President Aleksander Vucic to sign the EU-mediated Brussels agreement during a face-off at the UN Security Council on Thursday, but Vucic refused and was scolded by the council president for interrupting and shouting in the assembly.

“The lack of implementation not only jeopardises the European integration of the parties, but also damages their reputation as reliable and trustworthy partners,” Borrell’s statement continued.

Borrell adds that is would be “last time” for the countries to break the vicious cycle of crises and tensions and move to a “new European era,” including a brighter future for citizens and the region.

“We expect the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia to show responsibility, vision and leadership by making progress in implementation without further delays. It is an opportunity that should not be missed,” he added.

One part of the agreement was that Serbia must not stand in the way of Kosovo’s membership to international organisations, but on Sunday, Vucic doubled down on his opposition, directly violating the agreement.

He accused the European Commission of lying to him, adding he will change the approach of his country to the dialogue.

“I will explain how we were deceived, where and how some so-called friends lied to us, and many others, and this has to do with Kosovo’s membership in the CoE,” Vucic said.

He added, “They think they have the right to interpret the agreement in a false way, not wrongly or however they want, but falsely.”

Recently, US Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, was criticised for his comments stating that Kosovo still had work to do before it could join the Strasbourg-based human rights body.

Several European politicians took to social media to point out that their countries had no say in Kosovo’s membership of the organisation and that the US does not even qualify for membership due to its use of the death penalty.

Pristina, EU at odds over Banjska ‘terrorist attack’ report

Four months after the EU-dubbed ‘terrorist attack’ by Serb militants in the north of Kosovo and pledges of possible measures against Serbia pending the outcome of Pristina’s investigation, the EU Commission insists on a ‘final report’ with authorities in Kosovo saying they have already provided them with evidence and proof of Belgrade’s involvement, calling on them for a response.

Meanwhile, calls continue for the European Commission to take action over the Banjska attack. Kosovo maintains it has submitted a final report to the relevant EU institutions, while the EU’s lead spokesperson for foreign affairs, Peter Stano, said no “final official report” has been received.

In a bid to stem the flow of misinformation around the topic, Euractiv sent questions to Stano asking if any information, documents, or evidence has been submitted by Kosovo to the European Commission, what is missing from it that it could not be considered a “final official report,” and what format this report is supposed to take.