Brussels, 20/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 19 October, the European Union hailed the start of implementation of the agreement on the freedom of movement on Mitrovica Bridge - an agreement sealed by the prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo at the end of August (see EUROPE 11375).
In the view of High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, this is “a sign of genuine commitment to the process of dialogue and normalisation of relations between Pristina and Belgrade”. “The local communities and their representatives have ensured an orderly start to the revitalisation of the bridge”, she added.
Mitrovica Bridge spans the River Ibar, which separates the town into a northern district that is primarily Serbian (around 13,000 inhabitants) and a southern district where the majority of inhabitants are Albanian (around 65,000 people). Work is underway to rehabilitate the bridge, and this is due to be finished in June 2016.
“We (…) hope that the other elements of the agreement on freedom of movement - the memorandum of understanding on municipal development plans, the municipal zoning map, and detailed regulatory plan - will be signed soon”, said Mogherini's spokesperson. Through its office in Kosovo and its special representative on the ground, the EU remains in constant contact with representatives of both municipalities in order to monitor developments in the application of the agreement. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)