Tensions in the north/ Germany interrupts cooperation with Kosovo in several areas

2023-07-06 13:34:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Tensions in the north/ Germany interrupts cooperation with Kosovo in several

The Embassy of Germany in Pristina has confirmed for Radio Free Europe that it has temporarily suspended cooperation with Kosovo in certain areas, due to non-fulfillment of the European Union's requirements for de-escalation of the situation in the north of Kosovo.

This measure - which Germany says it took in accordance with the actions of Brussels - does not affect "projects with the civil society sector, as well as projects that we have started to implement".

"Measures include the postponement of government consultations on development cooperation, the suspension of an anticipated bilateral climate partnership, and the delivery of specific equipment to security providers," said the German Embassy's response to REL.

At the end of June, the EU announced that it had imposed some temporary punitive measures against Kosovo, since the country's Government did not take the steps required by the European bloc to de-escalate the situation in the north.

In that part of Kosovo, inhabited by a majority of Serbs, tensions have been high since the end of May, when the new Albanian mayors of the municipalities entered their offices, despite the resistance and protest of the Serbian residents.

Their protests escalated into violent clashes, with dozens injured - including soldiers from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission in Kosovo, KFOR.

Kosovo has not yet taken any steps, despite calls from the international community to recall the Albanian leaders and organize new elections.

The EU temporarily suspended the work of all working groups for the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) - which is the first step towards membership in the bloc - as well as invitations for Kosovo's participation in high-level meetings.

Both the EU and Germany have emphasized that these measures are temporary and can be removed if Kosovo takes the required steps to de-escalate the situation.

"We would like to emphasize that all projects affected [by these measures] can be restarted at any moment. For this, the urgent implementation of the necessary measures to de-escalate the situation in the municipalities in the north is required", says the response of the German Embassy./ Rel