The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo agreed on the free movement of citizens across the border, says the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
As the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell said, in during negotiations with the participation of the EU, Serbia agreed not to require special documents for entry into the country for holders of Kosovo identity cards, and the Kosovo authorities symmetrically agreed not to introduce such documents for citizens of Serbia.
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“Kosovo Serbs, like all other citizens, will be able to travel freely between Kosovo and Serbia using their identity cards,” Borrell stressed. He also specified that the EU received the appropriate guarantees from the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti.
The head of EU diplomacy called this agreement a “European decision” and congratulated the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo on the settlement of the conflict.
Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo escalated in late July when Pristina decided to introduce temporary documents that Serbian citizens must receive upon entry. In addition, Kosovo Serbs were ordered to re-register their cars and replace Serbian license plates with Kosovo ones.
In protest, Kosovo Serbs erected barricades and Serbian authorities threatened to use force. The Kosovo authorities have postponed the introduction of new rules until September 1. Negotiations between Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti mediated by the EU in mid-August ended without results. , unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. It was recognized by many European states, including Germany, as well as the USA. Belgrade considers Kosovo its autonomous province and does not recognize Pristina's independence. Serbia's position is shared by Russia, most of the post-Soviet states, as well as five EU countries, China and India.
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Serbia aspires to join the EU and, in this regard, has undertaken to normalize relations with Kosovo. Since 2013, Belgrade and Pristina have been trying to regulate relations through the mediation of the EU.
