Serbia-Kosovo

Commenting on Serbia's rejection of an EU-brokered compromise on normalising relations with Kosovo, Green MEP and EP draftsperson/rapporteur on Kosovo Ulrike Lunacek and Green foreign affairs spokesperson Franziska Brantner stated:

"While yesterday's announcement that Serbia was rejecting the deal is clearly a blow, the hard work and negotiations of the last few years should not simply be abandoned. The opportunity for compromise remains within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. Clearly, agreement on normalising relations is a pre-requisite for EU accession talks with Serbia to be opened but while the window of opportunity remains, the door must be left open.

“Time is running out however. Political decision-makers in Belgrade particularly, but also in Pristina, must take responsibility and ensure the enormous progress over the past few years is not lost. Without a compromise, Serbia's accession negotiations cannot be launched. The rejection also compromises Kosovo's accession progress and its prospective negotiations on a Stability and Association Agreement with the EU. The proposal by EU foreign policy high representative Ashton to provide neutral grounds for the continuation of the dialogue is welcome. Political leaders in Kosovo and Serbia must seize this opportunity.”