Balkans | The European Union condemns the attacks in Kosovo and calls for a de-escalation

The European Union condemned the attacks in Kosovo and called for a reduction in tensions for both this country and Serbia’s EU membership path.

Said Peter Stano, a spokesman for the European Commission: “We certainly condemn all acts of violence and attacks that took place in Kosovo.” He said.

Advocating for a reduction in tensions, Stano stressed that this was necessary above all for the benefit of the local population.

Stano noted that the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EOLEX) and NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) are present to ensure security on the ground, and emphasized that they continue to patrol and monitor the situation.

Noting that the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is essential for EU membership in both countries, Stano said that the EU-Western Balkans Summit held in Tirana, capital of Albania, made many calls on the issue last week.

Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia

Serbia and Kosovo soured again after Kosovo reported an increased presence of security forces in Serb-populated areas in the country’s north.

The two countries faced each other again ahead of snap general elections scheduled for December 18 in 4 municipalities in northern Kosovo, where the Serb population is packed.

While the Kosovo side says it is providing security in the region ahead of the elections, the Serb side argues that Serbs living in the region want to remove them.

According to local media reports, the situation in northern Kosovo is calm but tense.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, to be its territory.

Serbia and Kosovo, which clash periodically, are trying to find a common way to normalize relations, and eventually for the two countries to recognize each other, within the framework of the dialogue process between Belgrade and Pristina, which began in 2011 with mediation. from the European Union (EU).

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