The EU is running out of patience with Serbia and has drafted measures that will impact it politically, economically, and in terms of its EU accession, while more evidence emerges from the 24 September terrorist attack, including the involvement of Serbian President Aleksander Vucic’s son’s close collaborator.
Since the terrorist attack in Banjske, northern Kosovo, just over two weeks ago, pressure has been mounting from regional leaders, members of the European Parliament and Pristina to enforce measures on Serbia.
The attack saw some 30 armed militia ambush Kosovo police, killing one, before barricading themselves inside a monastery. The subsequent shootout with police saw three terrorists killed, and Belgrade declared a period of mourning.
Russia supports Serbia over EU-dubbed 'terrorist attack' in north Kosovo
The Russian Foreign Ministry, a government spokesperson and the Russian Embassy in Belgrade have all reacted in support of Serbia over what the European Commission has called a cowardly terrorist attack in the north of Kosovo on Sunday.
In the early …
It was later revealed that the attack involved the since-resigned vice-head of the Kosovo political party Serbian List, Milan Radojicic, Serbian intelligence chief Aleksander Vulin’s personal bodyguard Bojan Mijailovic, and Milorad Jevtic, a close associate of the Vucic’s son Danillo.
More information, following an investigation by Balkan Insight, found that weapons used in the attack had been made in Serbia in 2022, while some mortar rounds and grenades had been repaired in Serbian state maintenance centres in 2018 and 2021.
In an interview, MEP and rapporteur for Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, said that threats over stability in the Western Balkans “primarily come from Serbia and the lack of political will to find a solution. It is clear this time that patience with President Vucic is wearing thin.”
Regarding the attack, she asked, “How did armoured vehicles with weapons and military equipment make it to the north? Who was behind it, and which criminal groups still hide there?”
She added that as Vucic controls “many things” in Serbia, it is hard to believe he was unaware of what was happening concerning the purchase of arms or the organisation of the aggressive group.
Kosovo police seized weapons, ammunition and armoured vehicles, enough for several hundred people. They have said the attack was an attempt to annexe the north of Kosovo and have produced documents showing some of the weapons were purchased from the Serbian army.
“It is now in his hands to ensure a proper investigation and transparency about what happened,” she said.
If Serbia does not take action, von Cramon is clear the EU will.
“We are talking about political and financial measures or related to accession negotiations. We have many tools at our disposal, and we know it is not in President Vucic ‘s interest, especially since he called for elections in December, for things to slip out of control,” she explained.
The measures, not sanctions, as the Council must approve these, have already been prepared.
“The measures have been drafted now…We are talking about political and financial measures, limited access to IPA funds, which will undoubtedly harm the Serbian government,” von Cramon said.
MEPs call to lift EU sanctions on Kosovo, tough action on Serbia after terrorist attack
Members of European Parliament debated the situation in Kosovo following the terrorist attack of 24 September, reportedly backed by Belgrade, with lawmakers calling for urgent action against Serbia and a lifting of sanctions against Kosovo.
The debate was initiated by the …
Kosovo was subject to measures from the EU over the summer over its perceived failure to defuse tensions in the north. Late last year, Kosovo Serbs resigned en masse from all state institutions, triggering local elections to replace mayors in the Serb-majority north.
Following calls from Belgrade to boycott the elections, no Serb candidates ran, Serbs did not vote, and Albanian ethnic mayors won the mandates.
When entering the municipal buildings to assume their positions, they were faced with protests from Serbs, which escalated into violence where tens of NATO KFOR officers, along with journalists, police, and citizens, were injured.
Kosovo was asked to withdraw the mayors, hold new elections, remove special police units from the north, and return to dialogue, or they would face measures. While steps are underway to have a new vote, the EU continued with its crackdown amid Kurti’s defiance.
But the MEP said there can be no return to dialogue, facilitated by the EU, until the events of 24 September are clarified.
“There are demands from the Commission and institutions for clarity about what happened and a proper investigation into those who organised the attack. We hope to see constructive behaviour and a step-by-step approach. As for Kosovo, it’s in our interest to return to a constructive dialogue, but only after Serbia has clarified what happened on September 24. There’s no doubt about that.”
Once parties do return to the dialogue table, the MEP said she hopes Vucic will “sign the Ohrid Agreement to ensure he is not just talking, else it will be difficult for us here and in Kosovo to believe he is genuinely interested.”
Von Cramon also said there is a new proposal for resolving matters between the two countries being drafted, but she “can’t provide more details on that at the moment.”
“Serbia has undoubtedly destroyed everything it could, so for now, everyone is waiting for Serbia to do its part. Next, after we’ve seen how the attack will be treated, hopefully in a logical manner, then we can talk about the right step towards dialogue,” she said.
Her stance that dialogue cannot continue as business as usual, was echoed by Social-Democrat MEP Thijs Reuten.
“If there has been an attack, likely supported by Serbia itself, where a police officer lost his life, where a large quantity of smuggled weapons was found in Kosovo, perhaps for further destabilsing actions, then we cannot act as usual,” Reuten said.
“For me and many others in the European Parliament, everything that has happened, not only during the past week but also in the months after the Ohrid Agreement, is on the long list of provocations. The attack on KFOR soldiers, the kidnapping of police officers in Kosovo… the right atmosphere must be created for the parties to sit at a table again and work towards normalization. We cannot just go back to business as usual after all these provocations,” the Dutch MEP added.
Serbia and Vucic have continued to deny any involvement or prior knowledge of the attack. While Radojicic was arrested, he was then released and Vucic has said he was just a political collaborator, not a friend.
“It is always easier to accuse Belgrade. Who is going to believe that it is different? Almost nobody”, Vucic said, adding, “It is also easy to find weapons, not only in the black market. Kosovo police that chased Serbs carried AK weapons made in Kragujevac.”
As for the involvement of his son, he said he has “nothing to do” with the attack, adding, “The first characteristic of a coward is when someone attacks another’s family, his children, because they are always the easiest target.”
Meanwhile, the first contingent of 200 UK soldiers arrived in Kosovo on Friday, 6 October, to reinforce NATO’s 4500-strong peacekeeping mission.
(Alice Taylor | Euractiv.com, Bojana Zimonjic Jelisavac | Euractiv.rs)
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