Serbia, Kosovo reach agreement to implement EU-backed deal normalizing ties

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic held separate meetings with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell before a three-way session in North Macedonia.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and EU Special Representative of Europe Miroslav Lajcak attend EU-sponsored talks in Brussels, Belgium, February 27, 2023. (photo credit: REUTERS/JOHANNA GERON/FILE PHOTO)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and EU Special Representative of Europe Miroslav Lajcak attend EU-sponsored talks in Brussels, Belgium, February 27, 2023.
(photo credit: REUTERS/JOHANNA GERON/FILE PHOTO)

Kosovo and Serbia have reached an agreement on implementing a European Union-backed deal to normalize ties, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said late on Saturday, though the two leaders said disagreements remain.

Kosovo and Serbia have been in EU-backed talks for nearly 10 years since Kosovo declared independence in 2008, almost a decade after war ended Serbian rule. But Serbia still regards Kosovo as a breakaway province and flare-ups between the Balkan neighbors have stoked fears of a return to conflict.

The agreement on Saturday came after 12-hour talks between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and EU officials on implementing the deal, which both sides had agreed to in Brussels last month.

The two leaders held separate meetings with Borrell before a three-way session in North Macedonia.

"Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on the implementation annex of the agreement on the path to normalization of relations between them," he told reporters after meeting both leaders in the North Macedonian town of Ohrid.

Protesters hold flags and banners at a demonstration against a Western-backed deal on normalising ties between Kosovo and Serbia, in Belgrade, Serbia, March 17, 2023. (credit:  REUTERS/ZORANA JEVTIC)
Protesters hold flags and banners at a demonstration against a Western-backed deal on normalising ties between Kosovo and Serbia, in Belgrade, Serbia, March 17, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/ZORANA JEVTIC)

Vucic told a news conference the parties have not agreed on all points.

"Despite differences, we had decent conversation," he said.

Speaking at a different news conference, Kurti said, "This is a de facto recognition between Kosovo and Serbia" since Serbia has not yet signed the agreement.

Borrell said the EU will now forcefully demand both sides to fulfill obligations if they want to join the bloc, warning there would be consequences otherwise.

Serbs in Kosovo

He also touched upon a proposed association of Serb municipalities in Kosovo, which would give greater autonomy to Serb majority municipalities, a long disputed topic.

"Kosovo has agreed to launch immediately - and when I am saying immediately, I mean immediately - negotiations with the European Union facilitated dialog on establishing a specific arrangement and guarantees to ensure an appropriated level of self-management for the Serbian communities in Kosovo," the EU top diplomat said.

In the annex on the implementation of the agreement published on Saturday evening, the EU committed to organizing a donor conference within 150 days to set up an investment and financial aid package for Kosovo and Serbia.