MEPs say the Serbian Government is pursuing a very dangerous policy with regard to Kosovo and its Western partners, in a resolution adopted on Thursday.
The text, adopted by show of hands, condemns in the strongest possible terms “the hideous and cowardly terrorist attack on Kosovan police officers by well-organised Serbian paramilitaries” in Banjska/Banjskë on 24 September 2023, and urges all sides to de-escalate the situation in northern Kosovo.
MEPs are closely following the ongoing investigations by the Kosovan authorities and urge Serbia to fully cooperate and to bring those responsible for the attack who are currently residing in Serbia to justice, including facilitating their extradition to Kosovo.
Dangerous policy of Serbia with regard to Kosovo and its Western partners
Aggressive military behaviour, together with radicalised political messaging in Serbia and strong indications of the Serbian state’s involvement in the recent political violence in the north of Kosovo, indicates that the Serbian government is pursuing a very dangerous but coherent policy with regard to Kosovo and its Western partners.) MEPs are also concerned by evidence linking violent criminal groups in the north of Kosovo and in Serbia with the Serbian state.
If the investigation finds direct Serbian state involvement in the 24 September attacks, the Commission should freeze the funding provided to Serbia under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance III, MEPs say. They also call on the Council to adopt targeted restrictive measures, including but not limited to asset freezes and travel bans, against destabilising actors in the north of Kosovo and the leaders of major organised crime networks.
Work towards a peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue
Parliament calls on Serbia and Kosovo to denounce all forms of violence and acts of provocation, urging them to halt any actions that may further escalate tensions and to actively work towards a peaceful resolution of disputes through EU-facilitated dialogue .
The Commission should, MEPs say, act as an honest broker in the normalisation process and avoid appeasement towards Serbia, and they demand the Council lift the negative measures it has taken against Kosovo and to resume their high-level contacts with its President and the Kosovo government. The resolution calls on the Commission to draw up and present a transparent and ambitious roadmap for Kosovo’s path to integration by the end of 2023.
Source – EU Parliament
S&Ds: EU should finally stop its appeasement policy towards Serbia
Strasbourg, 19 October 2023
Today, the European Parliament called on EU member states to adopt targeted restrictive measures against Serbian destabilising actors in relation to the unprecedented terrorist attack against Kosovo police officers, carried out by Serbian paramilitaries on 24 September in the north of Kosovo.
As stated in the resolution adopted by the Parliament, the sanctions should include – but not be limited to – asset freeze and travel bans against destabilising actors in the north of Kosovo, such as Milan Radoičić who claimed responsibility for organising the aforementioned terrorist attack.
The Socialists and Democrats, who were the first to call for sanctions against Serbia after the terrorist attack and who requested the resolution, underline that this is key to get the balance right and to revive the dialogue, which is the only solution for the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo.
Tonino Picula, S&D spokesperson for foreign affairs and negotiator on the resolution on Serbia and Kosovo, said:
“The cowardly terrorist attack, which we condemn in the strongest terms, is a watershed moment, unprecedented in post-war times. This calls for serious political consequences, such as targeted sanctions against destabilising actors in the north of Kosovo.
“Furthermore, we call on the EU Commission to freeze the pre-accession funding intended for Serbia if the investigations reveal that the Serbian state was directly involved either in the September terrorist attack or in the previous violent May attacks in the north of Kosovo, or if the Serbian authorities refuse to fully cooperate.
“The situation is extremely worrying; in particular the Serbian army build-up close to the border with Kosovo. That is why we call on NATO to come up with a containment plan for the north of Kosovo, and we urge EU member states to deploy additional troops in the country without further delay.
“Serbia’s continued close relationship with Russia and China raises serious questions about the country’s strategic direction. We remain very concerned about the destabilising influence of the Serbian authorities, led by president Aleksandar Vučić, on the whole region.
“On top of this, we regret the EU sanctions against Kosovo and call for them to be lifted as soon as possible. At the same time, we call on Kosovo to establish the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities in line with the agreements reached within the EU-facilitated dialogue.
“The only solution is normalisation of relations through compromise, for which we need proper investigation and prosecution; no further escalation and return of both sides to EU-facilitated dialogue. In this context, we also call on the EU to propose a new, innovative and balanced approach to overcome the stalemate.”
Source – S&D Group – Email