The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, met with the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić, and the Kosovar Prime Minister, Albin Kurti - separately - in the margins of the European summit on Thursday 26 October, in an attempt to relaunch the process of normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina (see EUROPE 13279/4). No progress has been made.
“At the meeting we had today (Thursday 26 October, editor’s note) (...), we discussed the situation with them (Mr Kurti and Mr Vučić) and explained to them, once again, that the only way forward is normalisation through dialogue, and that the European way requires normalisation of relations between the two countries”, said Mr Borrell.
In an attempt to break the deadlock, a new proposal was made to the Balkan leaders, including a plan to launch the establishment of an association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo. “Unfortunately, the parties were not ready to agree on that without preconditions that were unacceptable to the other party”, Mr Borrell summarised. The previous proposal, presented on 14 September, suffered the same fate after another fruitless meeting in Brussels (see EUROPE 13251/4).
“We urged the parties to seize this opportunity, which would be a major step forward in the process of normalisation and would help to avoid new outbreaks of violence”, the High Representative also regretted.
The subject of relations between Belgrade and Pristina will be addressed by the EU27 Heads of State or Government on the second day of the European Council. On this occasion, they are expected to reiterate Mr Borrell’s calls for de-escalation.
The question of sanctions against Belgrade - requested by a large part of the European Parliament (see EUROPE 13275/20) - or of other measures should not be part of the discussions until the results of the investigation into the terrorist attack in which a Kosovar policeman was killed on 24 September by a group of Serbian gunmen are known (see EUROPE 13257/21). (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)