The situation between Kosovo and Serbia is complex and delicate.
Kosovo, a former autonomous province of Serbia, declared its independence in 2008. However, Belgrade does not recognize Kosovo's independence and maintains close economic and political relations with Serbian communities within the territory run by authorities of Pristina.
The international community is divided over the recognition of Kosovo's independence. While many countries, including the United States and most European Union countries have recognized it, Russia and China have not. In recent years, there have been efforts to improve relations between the two Balkan countries. For example, in 2013, Kosovo and Serbia began negotiations, facilitated by the EU, to resolve their differences, but with very limited progress. In 2018, there was another agreement to normalize relations, to bring the two sides closer together, which however, has not been fully implemented.
The current situation is tense, with both sides accusing each other of not respecting agreements and perpetuating discrimination against minorities. There are security concerns in the region, mainly due to thepresence of non-government armed groups. In general, the situation between Kosovo and Serbia requires a peaceful and lasting solution that considers the needs and rights of both sides.
In this context, the European Union and the international community must continue to support negotiations and peace efforts in the region. In the latest period, an intense diplomatic activity has been taking place between the two countries, seeking a new agreement for the normalization of relations: the EU has sent a special representative for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Miroslav Lajcak, who has met with the Prime Minister of Kosovo and the Serbian President in negotiations that have also involved the special representative of the US, German, French and Italian delegations.
The West is trying to promote the proposal of France and Germany, promoters of an agreement between the parties (non-public) to normalize and reconcile bilateral relations. According to some sources, although Serbia might not officially recognize what is now its former province, both sides would be in a de facto position to accept each other's territorial integrity. This would allow Kosovo to be able to freely enter the United Nations without Serbia's obstruction, and it would allow the achievement of what was established in 2013 during the Brussels Accords: the regulation of Serbian autonomy within Kosovo. For Serbia, the troubled integration process within the EU would be accelerated.
Vucic, the Serbian president, described how failure to overcome the current situation could result in several serious consequences for Serbia, starting with the political segregation of the country, resulting in the abandonment of investors and failure of the European integration process. He knows well that he cannot give up the European Union, as more than 60 percent of foreign direct investment comes from Western countries that are part of the EU, making it a fundamental and indispensable condition for his own internal development.
On the eastern side, Moscow plays a major role being Serbia's main political ally and having contributed and supported the country, in opposing Kosovo's independence process. The latter, along with Belarus, has distinguished itself by not sanctioning Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. As Putin is not directly involved in the Serb-Kosovo issue, but he still benefits from the tensions in the Balkan area, the international community is faced with an even more unstable situation that needs a decisive action.
The resulting European concern for the instability of relations between the regions sees in today's diplomatic efforts a glimmer of light, in the hope that it may lead to a resolution of the high tensions between Kosovo and Serbia.
Translated by Denise Praticò.
Bibliography:
https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/aree/Kosovo/Accordo-con-Belgrado-le-reazioni-in-Kosovo-134840
https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/ispitel-kosovo-serbia-sforzi-di-normalizzazione-37325
https://www.eastjournal.net/archives/129570
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https://unsplash.com/photos/TWNpgzhBaP8
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L'Autore
Riccardo Carboni
Classe 1999, laureato in Scienze internazionali e Diplomatiche presso l’Università di Bologna e da sempre appassionato di affari internazionali. Studente all’ultimo anno di Master in International Relations presso la LUISS, ha approfondito tematiche riguardanti la sicurezza internazionale seguendo forum e partecipando a programmi di pianificazione militari secondo la dottrina NATO. Autore all’interno di Mondo Internazionale per l’area tematica “Organizzazioni Internazionali”.
Born in 1999, he holds a bachelor’s degree in International and Diplomatic Sciences from the University of Bologna and have always been passionate about international affairs. Currently a final-year student in the Master's degree program in International Relations at LUISS, he has delved into issues related to international security by following forums and participating in military planning programs based on NATO doctrine. Author and contributor to Mondo Internazionale for the "International Organisations” section.
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