Serbia and Kosovo resolved some long-standing differences on Friday, in a deal that may help Belgrade win the status of candidate for European Union entry and lead to closer trade links between its former province and the EU.
During a round of EU-mediated talks in Brussels, the former Yugoslav states agreed to a compromise spelling out how Kosovo should be represented in regional meetings, EU officials said.
The formula sidesteps the issue of Kosovo’s independence, which Serbia refuses to recognise, and addresses one of the most divisive issues that have marred relations between the two since Kosovo declared independence in 2008.
Cooperation on this and other issues affecting relations between the two is crucial to convince EU governments that Serbia is ready to start negotiating membership.
“These agreements are a major step forward,” the EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and enlargement chief Stefan Fuele said in a joint statement. “They are important not just for Serbia and Kosovo but for the stability of region and thus for the EU.”
A decision to make Serbia an official candidate for EU membership could be taken next week if all EU capitals are satisfied with Friday’s deal. EU officials will discuss new steps on Tuesday, and a final decision could be taken at a summit of EU leaders on Thursday and Friday.
“We are happy that one of the big problems has been removed,” said Serbia’s chief negotiator, Borko Stefanovic. “This … allows Serbia as well to proudly stand in front of the European Union with a record that is fully met.”
In December, Belgrade failed to win the coveted candidate status because of opposition from several EU governments concerned over border tensions in northern Kosovo.
Northern Kosovo saw outbursts of violence last year after NATO peacekeepers (KFOR), the EU’s police mission (EULEX) and Kosovo authorities, which are dominated by ethnic Albanians, tried to take over two border crossings.
In response, local Serbs set up barricades and resisted KFOR’s efforts to take over the crossings. Dozens of people were wounded in clashes and one ethnic Albanian policeman was killed.
But roadblocks have been mostly removed and tensions have subsided recently. Friday’s agreement spells out further steps towards improving how the two will manage joint border controls.
Underscoring growing support to push Serbia along its EU path, Germany – a major opponent last year – has already signalled it is more open to supporting it now.
EU heads of state and government might also express support for a proposal by the European Commission, the EU’s executive, to consider talks on closer cooperation with Kosovo.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed the agreement, saying it was “consistent with Kosovo’s independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty”. But opposition parties in Kosovo threatened to stage demonstrations against the deal on Monday, saying it did not go far enough in asserting the province’s statehood.
Serbia lost control of Kosovo in 1999, and NATO bombed Serbia to halt the killing and expulsion of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo during a two-year Serb counter-insurgency war. More than 80 countries, including the United States and most of the EU, have now recognised Kosovo as an independent state.
Friday’s agreement is part of a year-long dialogue mediated by the EU and intended to reduce tensions and allow the two states to co-exist. Under its terms, Kosovo will no longer be represented in Balkan meetings by a United Nations body and will be able to sign agreements on its own account.
