Sorensen: Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue Continues and Has Delivered Concrete Results on Missing Persons

The European Union’s envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Peter Sorensen, has said that the Brussels process is not over and continues to produce concrete results.

In an interview with the Serbian daily Danas, Sorensen highlighted recent progress on the issue of missing persons, as well as several practical agreements that have a direct impact on citizens’ lives.

“The dialogue is still ongoing and has delivered concrete results. These include recent progress on missing persons and practical agreements that affect citizens’ lives,” he said.

However, the European mediator stressed that implementation of the 2023 Agreement, together with its Ohr Annex, remains insufficient.

According to him, Kosovo and Serbia must accelerate the fulfillment of their commitments, as there is no alternative to the normalization process.

“Implementation of the 2023 Agreement remains insufficient. Both parties must move faster in fulfilling their obligations. There is no alternative to the normalization process,” Sorensen said.

Asked about the impact of the institutional crisis in Pristina on his work, he declined to comment on Kosovo’s domestic politics. Sorensen nevertheless emphasized that functioning institutions are important for making decisions and implementing agreements.

“Fully functioning institutions naturally make it easier to make and implement decisions. But the obligations agreed within the framework of the normalization dialogue remain in force, regardless of electoral and political cycles,” he said.

According to Sorensen, the EU will continue to mediate the dialogue and assist both parties in implementing their obligations.

Regarding the request for Pristina to begin negotiations on “arrangements for the self-management of the Serbian community,” he clarified that this is a long-standing obligation.

“This is not a new request. It is a long-standing obligation, also included in the Implementation Annex agreed in Ohr in March 2023,” Sorensen said.

He reiterated that the European Union expects Kosovo and Serbia to fully implement all obligations set out in the 2023 Agreement and its annex.

“Political or electoral changes do not affect these obligations,” the EU mediator said.

Regarding Kosovo’s justice system, Sorensen said the EU had welcomed the withdrawal of the resignations of Serbian judges, prosecutors and support staff. He expressed concern about subsequent decisions that affected this process.

“The European Union continues to emphasize the importance of the rule of law and of a judicial system that reflects Kosovo’s multiethnic character,” he said.

Responding to Belgrade’s claim that the dialogue should be based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244, Sorensen stressed that the EU-led process is based on a UN General Assembly resolution.

“The EU-facilitated dialogue is based on UN General Assembly Resolution 64/298 of 2010. That resolution welcomed the European Union’s readiness to facilitate the dialogue,” Sorensen said.

He acknowledged that Kosovo and Serbia still hold opposing positions on status, but stressed that this very disagreement makes dialogue on normalizing relations necessary.

Sorensen explained that the aim of the process is to enable the parties to resolve practical issues, normalize relations and implement the commitments they have already made.

Regarding the role of the United States, he emphasized that the dialogue is led and facilitated by the European Union, while the US remains an important partner.

“The United States is an important partner, and close coordination between the EU and the US supports the normalization process,” he said.

According to the European envoy, the ultimate responsibility for implementing the agreements lies with Kosovo and Serbia.

“External partners can facilitate and support the process, but fulfilling the obligations remains the responsibility of the parties themselves,” Sorensen stressed.

Asked about the claim that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić lacks a constitutional mandate to negotiate and that some of the solutions agreed in Ohr conflict with Serbia’s Constitution, he said the EU does not interfere in the parties’ internal constitutional matters.

“The European Union does not make decisions on matters related to the internal constitutional arrangements of either party,” he said.

However, Sorensen reiterated the EU’s position that the 2023 Agreement and the Implementation Annex are binding on Kosovo and Serbia.

“The EU’s position is clear: the 2023 Agreement and its Implementation Annex are binding on both parties and form part of their European path. The EU expects both parties to fully meet their obligations,” Sorensen concluded.