European reaction to new spiral between Serbia and Kosovo angers Pristina

If last year the license plate war reignited the powder keg in the Balkans, this summer it is the hangover from the municipal elections that has triggered – again – tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. An attack that occurred on Sunday in northern Kosovo leaves four dead and six detained. The EU, arbitrator in the dispute between Pristina and Belgrade, has condemned the events in the strongest terms. Some words that do not seem sufficient for the Kosovar authorities, who feel that Brussels is turning towards Serbian partisan postulates.

According to local media, early Sunday morning a group of about 30 armed Serbian men launched an ambush with grenades and gunshots against a Kosovo police patrol in the northern village of Banjska.. While fleeing, they would have locked themselves in a nearby Serbian Orthodox church for hours, a fact that made the outcome difficult since the Kosovar authorities needed special permission to access the monastery.

From Pristina they hold their neighbor directly responsible. “We condemn this criminal and terrorist attack. Organized crime with the official political, financial and logistical support of Belgrade is attacking our state,” said Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo, through his Facebook profile.. In Belgrade they dissociate themselves from the attack. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attributed the attack to Kosovo Serb citizens who “do not want to suffer Kurti's terror anymore.”

In the midst of this crossfire, which is already the worst clash between the two in recent years, the NATO peace mission in Kosovo, known by the acronym KFOR, assured that its troops are in the area and “ready to respond in kind.” be necessary”. For his part, Josep Borrell, head of European diplomacy, has issued a statement demanding the de-escalation of tension in the north of the country.. Of course, measuring each word and avoiding pointing out names and surnames, putting a label on the facts.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the horrific attack perpetrated by an armed gang against Kosovo police officers in Banjska/Banjskë, northern Kosovo (…) The facts surrounding the attack must be established. And those responsible must be brought to justice,” said the head of European diplomacy.. Shortly after, the former Spanish Foreign Minister spoke by telephone with both Kurti and Vuric to ask them for “the restoration of calm and stability.”

Discontent with Brussels

The lukewarm reaction of the European Union has raised dust in Kosovo. “Really, Mr. Borrell? The terrorists kill the police and you make a call to all actors? Not a word about support for the police? None against the terrorists? You were also referring to the terrorist attacks in Spain as hostile? What a shame,” Donika Gervalla-Schwarz, Kosovo Foreign Minister, reacted through X (the old social network Twitter).

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine 19 months ago, Pristina feels that a change of script and priorities is taking place. His feeling is that one of the great concerns of Europeans in the Western Balkans is that Serbia, the country in the region closest politically to Russia, ends up succumbing to the seduction of Moscow.. And the Kosovar authorities reproach that, in this chess game, the Europeans are taking off the suit of neutral referee in favor of their opponent.

Days before the outbreak of the current wave of violence, Kurti already accused Miroslav Lajcak, the EU's main negotiator in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, of not being “neutral” and of positioning himself in favor of Serbia.. The reproaches came after the failure of the last round of dialogue, held on September 14 in Brussels, where Borrell directly accused Kurti of the lack of progress due to his insistence on Serbian recognition of his country, becoming independent in 2008.

With talks spanning two decades leaving minimal and dribs and drab results, the European position is increasingly complicated and frustrating.. At this juncture, voices calling for a greater US presence are growing.. “We have to maintain more consultations with Brussels, Washington and other actors to get back on track,” said the Kosovar at the time.. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Meliza Haradinaj, has gone further, who has recently advocated completely abandoning the dialogue led by Brussels and letting the United States take the reins of the diplomatic initiative.. This move would be a slap in the face to European diplomacy and credibility and a failure in its strategic neighborhood and in a region whose ultimate goal is to be part of the community club.

The EU has sponsored the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina since 2011. It is the only official channel open. Last March, timid progress was made with a plan for the normalization of Balkan relations, but these months progress has not gone beyond paper. Europeans insist that good relations are a non-negotiable requirement to be part of the EU. While Serbia is one of the best positioned in the race towards Brussels, Kosovo – which five European countries, including Spain, does not recognize – does not even have candidate status.