Not Yet a Done Deal: Kosovo and the Prishtina-Belgrade Agreement
Not Yet a Done Deal: Kosovo and the Prishtina-Belgrade Agreement
Author(s): Kurt Bassuener, Bodo Weber
Subject(s): International relations/trade, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: DPC Democratization Policy Council e.V.
Keywords: Serbia and Kosovo; Serbia and EU;
Summary/Abstract: The agreement between Prishtina and Belgrade, brokered by the European Union in April 2013 opened the door to resolution of the status dispute between Serbia and Kosovo and unblocked both countries’ path toward integration in the EU. This unprecedented development was made possible by a re-ignition of a previously frozen conflict, reactive but consistent German leadership – with strong British and US support – and political change in Serbia. The Prishtina-Belgrade dialogue holds out the promise as a vehicle which, in conjunction with bilateral pressure and a tailored EU enlargement process, could ultimately lead towards full normalization between Kosovo and Serbia. But this is not a done deal yet – as events following the signing of the agreement in April and an implementation plan in May have demonstrated. Due to developments since the summer, the process has reached a point at which it could go seriously awry, threatening the hard-won functionality of the state of Kosovo and the peaceful integration of the majority of Kosovo’s Serbs, as well as perpetuating the status dispute with Serbia. Now is the time to shut down such threats once and for all. In order to get there a number of key steps are necessary in the aftermath of the local elections scheduled for November,
Series: DEM. POLICY COUNCIL - Press-Contributions
- Page Count: 18
- Publication Year: 2013
- Language: English
- Content File-PDF