The EU welcomes Vucic's calls for the reintegration of Serbs in Kosovo

The European Union, referring to the measures and appeals of the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, to the Serbs in Kosovo, asked both countries to engage constructively in the dialogue for the normalization of relations.

"We welcome the willingness expressed by President Vucic to continue engagement in the dialogue facilitated by the EU. We also positively receive his call for the Serbs of Kosovo to participate in the elections in Kosovo and reintegrate in all the institutions of Kosovo, from which they left in 2022", said the spokesperson of the EU, Peter Stano.

He made the comments in response to Radio Free Europe's request to comment on some of Vucic's requests and measures, which he submitted last week.

Among other things, they include the announcement and holding of "local, free and democratic elections" in the north of Kosovo, inhabited by a majority of Serbs, as well as the return of Serbs to the Regional Police Directorate of Kosovo for the north and the return of Serbian judges and prosecutors in their functions.

The municipalities in the north are currently led by Albanians, after the local Serbian residents boycotted the elections in that area.

Serbian leaders, as well as other community officials, resigned from Kosovo institutions in the north in November 2022, when tensions were high due to the decision of the Kosovo authorities to replace Serbian car plates with Serbian ones. Kosovo.

Stano said that the EU has repeatedly called on Belgrade to encourage the reintegration of Serbs into Kosovo's institutions, and on Pristina to enable it.

"The dialogue agreements foresee the steps and procedures for this to happen, in accordance with and respecting the legal framework of Kosovo", said Stano.

"In this context, the implementation of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority is very important", he added, also referring to Vucic's request for the establishment of this association in Kosovo.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has not yet commented on Vucic's demands.

Radio Free Europe has been contacting his Government since last Friday, but has not received a response.

Stano repeated calls to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and what he called unilateral steps.

"Inciting and misleading rhetoric, as well as unilateral and uncoordinated actions go against dialogue. They put at risk the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, as well as the safety of their citizens", said Stano.

"The way forward for both parties is to confirm their constructive engagement in the normalization process. The first case for this is the meeting of the chief negotiators on September 17 in Brussels", said the EU spokesperson.

He added that the European Union "will continue to stand by the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia, in their respective aspirations to join the EU".