The European Union has taken measures against Kosovo for not taking steps to de-escalate the situation in the north and informed the Kosovo institutions of those measures on June 28, an unnamed EU spokesperson confirmed for "Gazeta Express".
As he said, work in working bodies within the Stabilization and Association Agreement has been temporarily suspended, and Kosovo will not be invited to high-level meetings, while bilateral visits will be suspended. The meetings focused on the situation in the north of Kosovo, within the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina under the auspices of the EU, will not be interrupted.
Also, it was confirmed for "Gazeta" that the funds program for Kosovo within IPA 2024 has been suspended, and the proposals presented by Kosovo within the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans, as confirmed by the EU spokesperson, were not at all submitted for consideration to the Investment Fund Committee at the meeting June 29 and 30.
The entry into force of these measures was immediately confirmed by Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelji on Friday, when he indicated that Kosovo was not included in the allocation of a 2,1 billion euro fund approved by the Western Balkan Investments Operational Committee.
The EU spokesperson explained that the measures introduced in Kosovo are temporary and reversible depending on the development of events on the ground and decisions on de-escalation that can be taken by Prime Minister Aljbin Kurti, reports Kosovo Online.
In the meantime, the EU is closely monitoring whether Serbia fulfills the official demands of Brussels and is ready to take measures if this does not happen.
The representative of the Union also said that the situation in the north of Kosovo seriously disturbs the EU, which was also expressed by the high representative of the EU, Đosep Borelj, on June 3 on behalf of the 27 member states.
"We condemned the violence and once again call on both sides to immediately de-escalate. Borelj, on behalf of the EU member states, was very clear about the expected steps that should lead to de-escalation, the source of "Gazeta" said.
He reiterated that the EU expects Kosovo to act in the direction of de-escalation and suspend police operations, withdraw police forces from the vicinity of municipal facilities in the north, that mayors of municipalities temporarily perform their duties outside municipal buildings and that early elections be called as soon as possible in four municipalities. with the full and unconditional participation of Serbs from Kosovo.
He added that it is necessary to implement quickly Ohrid Agreement, including the formation of the Community of Municipalities with a Serbian majority.
"Unfortunately, Kosovo has not yet taken the necessary steps. Therefore, the EU, as shown in the announcement of the high representative on behalf of the member states from June 3, decided to apply measures to Kosovo," said the EU spokesperson.
BG/FoNet
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