Vllasi: EU measures should not be linked to the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, if there are measures, they should be directed towards Serbia
Express newspaper
23/02/2026 9:43
Political expert Azem Vllasi has stated that the continuation of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue will occur when the special envoy and European mediator invites the parties to the negotiating table, saying that the Kosovo side must be prepared for this process.
“The Kosovo-Serbia dialogue will continue when special envoy-mediator Soren Petersen calls the parties to the table. The Kosovo side must be ready,” Vllasi told FrontOnline.
According to Vllasi, Kosovo should focus on two main issues: implementing the Brussels agreements of February 2023 and the Ohrid agreements of March 2023, as well as insisting on mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia as two independent states.
 ”The Kosovar side should insist on two issues: a) the implementation of the Brussels agreements from February 2023 and the Ohrid agreements from March 2023; b) Insist on the mutual recognition of Kosovo and Serbia as two independent states, as stated in President Donald Trump’s Strategy Act,” Vllasi told FrontOnline.
He estimates that the Serbian side will seek the formation of the Union of Serb-majority municipalities, while Kosovo’s position, according to Vllas, should be that this is an internal issue of Kosovo, which is resolved in cooperation with Kosovo Serbs and local government.
“The Serbian side will insist on the Union of Serb-majority municipalities. The position of the Kosovar side should be: this issue is exclusively an internal matter of Kosovo and will be resolved in cooperation with the Kosovo Serbs,” said Vllasi.
Vllasi also commented on the European Union’s measures, emphasizing that, according to statements by European authorities, they are lifted after the constitution of the Parliament and the election of the Government and should not be linked to the dialogue, as such would be interpreted as pressure on Kosovo.
He adds that the EU is informed of Serbia’s position regarding the non-implementation of the 2023 agreements and, if there should be punitive measures against any party, they should be directed at Serbia.
”EU authorities have stated that the measures will be lifted after the constitution of the Parliament and the election of the Government. Therefore, they should not be linked in any way to the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue because it would come across as blackmail for Kosovo and that Kosovo is to blame for the dialogue not yielding results. The EU knows that the Serbian Government has informed them in writing that they will not implement the Brussels and Ohrid agreements of 2023. Therefore, if any party should be threatened with measures, it is the Serbian side,” Vllasi said.