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Vebi Kosumi
is facilitating negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo (EULEX 2013),
and has sponsored talks between Serbia and Kosovo since 2011 (The
Economist 2011). While the official recognition of Kosovo by Serbia
has not been set as a condition for Serbia’s future EU membership, there
is consent that Serbia will not be awarded membership until the issue of
Kosovo is resolved in a sustainable way (Koeth 2013:133).
The EU is encouraging the Western Balkan countries to fulfil their membership requirements. All States in the Western Balkans are currently
aspiring to join the EU. Hence, in its relationship to Serbia and Kosovo
the EU has had the upper hand in facilitating negotiations and managing
ongoing conflicts between Serbia and Kosovo.
On the 19 April 2013, the tenth EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo
and Serbia resulted in a landmark deal signed by the PMs of Serbia and
Kosovo. The agreement was welcomed by multinational organisations
such as the EU, NATO, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE), and the UN; as well as the USA and other countries
(EU 2013, UN News Centre 2013). This is the first bilateral agreement
between Kosovo and Serbia signed by both PMs resulting in a ‘First
Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalisation of Relations’
which moves both States towards EU membership.
The agreement is a landmark one for two reasons. First, Serbia has
agreed to not have an administrative presence in Northern Kosovo as the
local administration will be integrated into Kosovo’s system. Second,
Serbia has recognised Kosovo’s independence de facto (Prelec 2013).
Kosovo has agreed to form an ‘Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities’ which will give the ‘Association’ maximum powers
within the municipalities. These include providing names of commanders of police to be appointed by the interior ministry, whilst being inte-