Can the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue be operationalized in March?

The warning to operationalize the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, by the European Union's chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, was welcomed in Kosovo. However, concerns were raised about whether major decisions could be made in Kosovo before the establishment of a new government, as well as the political crisis in Serbia.

According to experts on the dialogue process, there may be movement towards dialogue during March, if the new governing coalition in Kosovo is confirmed after the February 9 elections.

As part of the Munich Security Conference in Germany, President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti, in separate meetings, on Friday discussed with the new European Union special representative for dialogue, Peter Sorensen.

In a meeting with Sorensen, Kurti emphasized that Serbia has violated the Brussels Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Annex, while adding that in order to move forward in the dialogue, Serbia must sign the agreement, withdraw the former Prime Minister's letter to the European Union, and hand over the chief terrorist, Milan Radoićić, who is responsible for the Serbian terrorist attack in Banjska in 2023.

In relation to this, political analyst Seb Bytyqi says that for a serious move in the dialogue there must be confirmation of the new governing coalition in Kosovo.

According to him, despite Kallas' warning to make the dialogue functional in March, the elections in Germany, but also the political crisis in Serbia, where Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević has resigned, could affect the progress of the dialogue.

"There will be some movements (in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue), but for a serious movement, the confirmation of the new coalition should be expected. Even if the vote for the new government does not take place, that coalition should be expected to have serious movements. Let's not forget that we also have an election season in Europe, especially in Germany and France. We also have the political crisis in Serbia. So it is not only the elections in Kosovo but also the situations in other countries that affect this process. However, it is expected that there will be movements from the European Commission soon. We hope that they have reflected and that there will be a more realistic proposal for the implementation of the agreements (Kosovo-Serbia)", emphasizes Bytyçi.

Meanwhile, political scientist Artan Muhaxhiri is more skeptical that there can be progress in the dialogue during this period.

According to him, neither Kosovo nor Serbia can make major decisions for a certain period of time until new institutions are established in Kosovo and the political crisis in Serbia is overcome.

He also highlights the importance that the US, with the Trump administration, will have in this process.

"Neither Kosovo nor Serbia can make major decisions for a certain time. The EU has the tracks on which it moves with inertia, so there can be no major changes. But a new factor that will change is the Trump administration, which has proven an interest in the region. As soon as the issues of Gaza and Ukraine leave the discussion tables, I think the Balkans will also have a focus. Then everything will be unpredictable, as is the political spirit of the Trump administration. A good opportunity was lost with the Biden administration because it could have been carried out elegantly. Now with Trump, everything will be unpredictable because there could be great benefits but also great losses. Therefore, for these reasons, I consider that great uncertainty awaits the dialogue," Muhaxhiri emphasizes.

The head of diplomacy of the European Union (EU), Kaja Kallas, said this week that together with the new envoy for the dialogue, Peter Sorensen, they will try to make the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue functional.

Danish diplomat Peter Sorensen has taken up his position as EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue on February 1, 2025.

During the mandate of former EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak, Kosovo and Serbia reached the Brussels Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Annex in 2023, but the same has not yet been implemented. /kp/Telegrafi/