Kaja Kallas: Elections in Kosovo delay Pristina-Belgrade dialogue

2026-05-11 14:18:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, confirmed that the frequent election cycles in Kosovo are the main reason why, for a long time, there has not been a new round of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, at the leadership level.

She told reporters that there is a willingness from both the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vu?i?, and the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, for a meeting within the framework of the dialogue, but that the announcement of new early elections in Kosovo has again postponed the process.

"We, in fact, had planned the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina - a high-level political dialogue. We had the consent of both leaders - from Kosovo and from Serbia - but now the elections in Kosovo are approaching again, which of course postpones the process," Kallas said.

"I am, however, working separately with both parties so that we can continue to implement the agreements that are already in place," she added.

The leaders of Kosovo and Serbia last met as part of the dialogue to normalize relations in September 2023.

Kallas took office as EU High Representative in December 2024 and has not yet had the opportunity to host any round of talks.

Today, she welcomed a meeting of Foreign Ministers of European Union member states and their counterparts from the Western Balkans.

Before the start of the meeting, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo, Glauk Konjufca, said that Kosovo seeks equal and fair treatment from the European Union, emphasizing that the country is ready to advance in the integration process based on merit.

Regarding the dialogue with Serbia, he said that the process should end with mutual recognition.

His Serbian counterpart, Marko Djuric, later said that, during the working morning, the issue of dialogue was discussed and the fact that the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities in Kosovo has not yet been formed was recalled, even though it was an obligation signed in Brussels.

Djuric said that Kosovo representatives have tried to blame Serbia for various regional problems and have constantly portrayed it as a source of instability.

He added that implementing the proposal of Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? to admit the entire Western Balkans into the EU, immediately and without delay, would be the best possible step for both Europe and the Balkans.

"Just imagine how much lower tensions in the region would be if all Serbs, all Albanians, all Bosniaks could move freely without borders, respecting sovereignty, statehood, laws of course, but without bureaucratic obstacles ," Djuric said.

According to him, Serbia's message was that the Schengen free movement area should be opened to the entire region as soon as possible.

"It's frustrating that we have hard borders every 150 and 200 km ," he said.

The talks between the 27 European heads of diplomacy and the six foreign ministers of the countries of the region are expected to serve as an introduction to a further debate on the situation in the region, which will take place today, but only at the level of EU ministers.

The meeting is expected to also discuss preparations for the EU-Western Balkans summit, which will be held in June in Tivat, Montenegro.

According to European diplomats, the main focus will be: strengthening cooperation between the EU and the region, increasing resilience to external influences, alignment with EU foreign policy, and improving relations between countries in the region. /REL