After a protracted conflict, the governments of Serbia and Kosovo have finally reached an agreement on border rules between the two countries. That reports foreign coordinator of the European Union Josep Borrell on Saturday afternoon on Twitter. Discussions about possible rules have been causing unrest, especially in the north of Kosovo, for some time.
Also read: What is behind the escalation of the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo?
According to Borrell, following an EU-facilitated dialogue, it was decided that ‘Serbia has agreed to abolish entry and exit documents for holders of Kosovar identity cards and Kosovo has agreed not to introduce these [documenten] for people with a Serbian identity card”. No further explanation was given yet, so it remains unclear whether this means that Serbia no longer requires residents of Kosovo to cross the border with a special, temporary number plate. Kosovars have been banned from entering Serbia for more than a decade with a record that says ‘RKS’ (Republic of Kosovo’). Kosovo recently threatened to introduce a similar law on 1 September for Serbs traveling to Kosovo. The latter has led to considerable tensions recently.
It is not clear whether a further escalation of this conflict over license plates has now been averted. Borrell said Serbs and Kosovars can cross the border freely with their ID cards. “This is a European solution,” Borrell writes. “We congratulate both leaders on this decision and on their leadership.”
In 2008 Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. Belgrade has never recognized its independence. A large Serb minority lives in the north of Kosovo. Earlier this month, officers were fired upon and roads blocked in protest against new regulations proposed by Pristina.