Risk of ethnic tensions, EU criticizes actions in northern Kosovo

The EU called on outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti to avoid escalating measures. It demanded that Kosovo and Serbia be constructive in implementing the normalization agreement.

The European Union has expressed concerns following recent operations by Kosovo authorities, which closed several public service offices in Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo, including companies providing drinking water and basic services to local communities.

The EU described these actions as "actions that risk increasing interethnic tensions and damaging Kosovo's international position". This EU reaction comes precisely at the time when the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, asked European leaders at the European Political Community Summit held in Tirana to lift the punitive measures against Kosovo, which she described as unfair and depressing for citizens.

Taking control of several facilities in the north

In recent days, Kosovo authorities have taken control of several facilities in northern Kosovo that were used within the framework of the Serbian system. The National Employment Service, the premises of the Public Municipal Enterprise "Ibër Water Supply", the sports hall, the city museum and several other institutions were taken under control. For the EU, the recent operations, inspections and closures by the police in Kosovo risk negatively affecting the daily lives of local communities.

The EU draws attention to the fact that this "undermines Kosovo's international image", specifically mentioning the operation to take control of the "Ibar Waterworks" in North Mitrovica and the closure of the water plant in Zubin Potok.

According to the EU, "unilateral and uncoordinated actions undermine efforts to build trust between communities." "We call on the outgoing Prime Minister Kurti and the authorities in Kosovo to stop these closures, show restraint and avoid escalating measures," the EU's response further states.

It further states that "Kosovo and Serbia should engage constructively in the implementation of the normalization agreement and the implementation of the annex, as well as other agreements without delay and without preconditions", specifically mentioning the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities.

Uncoordinated actions cause punitive measures

It was precisely the uncoordinated actions in the north that led the European Union to impose several punitive measures against Kosovo in 2023, following a tense situation in this part of the country. The EU continues to maintain those measures, considering that the Kosovo government has not yet done enough to de-escalate the situation in the north.

But Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani disagrees with the continuation of these measures, which she is calling "very unfair". "There is no clear explanation why these measures continue. For this reason, I once again call on the European Union and its leaders to take the courageous decision to lift these measures against the most pro-European nation in the world", said President Osmani, before European leaders at the European Political Community Summit held in Tirana. She reminded them that, as she says, "97% of Kosovo's citizens are pro-European", arguing that "Kosovo, the state most aligned with the European Union in terms of politics and security, is nevertheless the only country at the summit table that remains under punitive measures from the EU itself.

"Emigration is also related to the erosion of hope and trust within states. We need to invest in increasing hope, especially among young people. But how can we talk about increasing hope, when countries that are 100% aligned with the EU's foreign and security policy, like Kosovo, are punished with restrictive measures?" said Osmani. The Kosovo president told European leaders that "maintaining measures against Kosovo is not a sign of strategic strength, but of confusion," and that, according to her, "the European Union needs a bold decision to strengthen hope, not to diminish it."/DW