8 April 2025
President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Albania*, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina*, as well as Andorra, align themselves with this statement.
The European Union and the Western Balkans share a common future and face urgent challenges that we can only overcome together. We owe it to our citizens to build a future of peace and prosperity, based on shared principles and values, and common interests. The future of the Western Balkans is in our European Union. We once again reconfirm our full and unequivocal commitment to the European Union membership perspective of the Western Balkans.
The United Nations General Assembly welcomed the readiness of the European Union to facilitate a process of dialogue between Kosovo[†] and Serbia.
President,
The European Union welcomes that Serbia and Kosovo reaffirmed their commitment to the EU-facilitated Dialogue and the process of normalisation of their relations and pledged constructive engagement in the process to move it forward quickly. We reiterate that the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia and its Implementation Annex adopted in February and March 2023 respectively, must be fully respected and implemented as soon as possible without preconditions as all EU-related commitments, along with other pending commitments reached in the EU-facilitated Dialogue, led by the High Representative Kaja Kallas and supported by the EU Special Representative Sørensen. This includes the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb Majority Municipalities in Kosovo. Serbia is expected to initiate the recognition of Kosovo’s documents and symbols.
The European Union remains deeply concerned about the situation in the north of Kosovo. Kosovo and Serbia must pursue sustained de-escalation efforts, refrain from unilateral and provocative actions that could lead to tensions and violence and avoid divisive rhetoric.
Furthermore, we reiterate that the status of Serbia-supported structures and services is foreseen to be resolved in line with agreements reached in the EU-facilitated Dialogue and Kosovo law.
We call on Kosovo to enable the reintegration of Kosovo Serb judges, prosecutors, police officers and other personnel into all Kosovo institutions they left in 2022. The Council of the European Union has expressed its expectation that the reintegration will be done without preconditions by Serbia in accordance with Dialogue agreements and with full respect for Kosovo’s legal framework.
Allow me also to reiterate the European Union’s expectations that Serbia will fully cooperate and take all the necessary measures to apprehend and urgently bring to justice the perpetrators of the 2023 attacks in the north of Kosovo. In this context, allow me to underline the need for full accountability and that we deeply regret that Serbia has taken insufficient actions in this respect.
President,
The European Union recalls the importance of Kosovo’s close cooperation with the EULEX mission, as well as other relevant international actors.
We reiterate the importance of and our support for the work of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office and we underline our readiness to assist them in the implementation of their mandate.
Monsieur le Président,
L’Union européenne tient à saluer les élections parlementaires pluralistes de février 2025 qui se sont tenues sans incident avec la participation de toutes les communautés, sous un nouveau régime de droit électoral du Kosovo, mettant en œuvre les recommandations des précédentes missions électorales de l’Union européenne. Nous invitons tous les députés de l’Assemblée Parlementaire du Kosovo appartenant à la communauté des Serbes du Kosovo à participer activement et de façon constructive aux travaux de l’Assemblée.
Il est essentiel que se tiennent à l’automne de cette année des élections municipales inclusives, avec la pleine participation des Serbes du Kosovo sans pré-condition, dans les quatre municipalités du nord.
President,
In conclusion, the European Union expects Serbia and Kosovo to engage in good faith in the EU-facilitated Dialogue on a comprehensive legally binding agreement on normalisation of relations in accordance with international law and EU law without further delay. Normalisation of relations and implementing their Dialogue commitments are essential conditions on the European path of both parties and both risk losing important opportunities in absence of progress.
Finally, it bears repeating – as I underlined at the start of this intervention – that the European Union and the Western Balkans share a common future. Even as we face urgent challenges, we can only overcome these together.
Thank you.