EU: Return of Serbian judges and prosecutors is part of the dialogue

The European Union has stated that the return to duty of Serbian judges and prosecutors in Kosovo is being addressed within the broader process of normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia. This was declared on Wednesday to Radio Free Europe (RFE) by the EU spokesperson.

In its written response to RFE, the EU emphasized that it has continuously asked Serbia to promote this process, and Kosovo to enable the return to justice institutions of Serbian members of that system, in accordance with the dialogue agreements and Kosovo’s legislation.

The EU spokesperson also said that both parties must create the necessary conditions to fulfill these obligations, and avoid actions that could further complicate the process.

At the end of November 2022, representatives of the Serbian community collectively withdrew from Kosovo’s institutions. This action came in opposition to the Kosovo Government’s decision to phase out the use of vehicle license plates issued by Serbia and replace them with Kosovo plates.

In addition to police officials and local administration staff, around 130 judges, prosecutors, and judicial administrative employees resigned in the four northern Serb-majority municipalities: North Mitrovica, Leposavić, Zvečan, and Zubin Potok.

The issue of these resignations, still unresolved, was raised again in mid-June. Kosovo’s acting president, Albulena Haxhiu, asked the Kosovo Judicial Council and the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council to complete the relevant procedures “without delays,” arguing that their prolongation is affecting the proper functioning of the justice system.

The Kosovo Judicial Council told Radio Free Europe that it had received the letter on June 19 and that the topic will be addressed in one of the upcoming meetings, according to constitutional and legal competencies.

On the other hand, the Prosecutorial Council did not respond to Radio Free Europe’s request for comment.

The mass withdrawal of Serbs from Kosovo’s institutions was an initiative of the Serbian List and was supported by the authorities in Belgrade.

After the resignations, the employees in question received temporary contracts and continued to receive salaries from Serbia’s budget.

However, over time, some of them who did not support the Serbian List lost this income, while the opportunity to return to their previous jobs was also lost.

After a series of crises in northern Kosovo, which peaked with the armed attack against the Kosovo Police in Banjska in 2023, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić requested the return of Serbs to the Kosovo Police and justice institutions.

Even the Serbian List, before last year’s local elections, admitted that the decision to withdraw from Kosovo’s institutions had been a mistake.

Kosovo authorities, led by Albin Kurti, have assessed that the return of Serbs to Kosovo’s institutions should not be treated politically, but as a legal and constitutional matter. / RFE