Kosovo

The European Union expressed "concern" over unfulfilled pledges from earlier this year by both sides in talks to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo, and urged them to "engage constructively and in good faith," while a special counselor to the U.S. State Department reiterated to Kosovo's president the need for de-escalation in the Balkan hot spot.

Talks between the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo on improving ties failed to make a breakthrough after Pristina rejected an EU compromise proposal, the bloc’s foreign policy chief said.

Kosovo’s Minister of Local Government, Elbert Krasniqi, has launched procedures to see how mayors could be dismissed, in what appeared to be a move towards holding new local elections in tense Serb-dominated northern municipalites.

[…] On Wednesday, Kurti announced he would reduce the number of special police officers stationed outside four municipal buildings in ethnic Serb-majority areas in northern Kosovo, and hold new mayoral elections in each of the towns. The move has angered the opposition, who argued that Kurti “experimented” for months and jeopardised Kosovo’s international position only to back down later.

After US and EU, EULEX stated Pristina's decision to declare Civil Defense and Northern Brigade as terrorist organizations was not in line with that mission. … Yesterday, the European Union assessed that this step, apart from not being coordinated with Brussels, does not contribute to the de-escalation of the situation in the north of Kosovo.

The European Union will not lift political and economic sanctions on Kosovo unless the government in Pristina de-escalates tensions with ethnic Serbs, the EU envoy for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia said on July 4 after a meeting with Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Government on Thursday declares two groups operating in the Serb-majority north of Kosovo terrorist organisations, amid warnings that it may further alienate local Serbs.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says agreement has been reached on the need to hold fresh elections in ethnic Serb-majority northern Kosovo to defuse simmering tensions between Pristina and Belgrade.

The EU has urged Kosovo to back down in a dangerous confrontation with ethnic Serbs seeking more independence. Kosovo should "immediately" pull back security forces, withdraw disputed mayors, and hold new local elections in the ethnic trouble-spots in northern Kosovo, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday (22 June).

EU spokesman Peter Stano on Wednesday said the 27 EU member states had “unanimously” agreed to take “reversible and temporary measures” against Kosovo, “depending on the development on the ground and credible decisive steps by (Kosovo) Prime Minister (Albin) Kurti”.