Andric Rakic: CSM could be on the list of conditions for lifting measures against Kosovo

Milica Andric Rakic, Program Manager at the NGO Social Initiative, assesses for Kosovo Online that if Kosovo wants the current EU measures to be lifted, it must adhere to the specified conditions. Otherwise, she adds, the measures will not be suspended, and there is potentially a formal expansion of those measures to include the CSM.

She notes that a new package of sanctions "is not unrealistic" because, as she says, there's already too much talk about it, adding that "where there's smoke, there's fire." She mentions that many sources in Pristina discuss the possibility of new sanctions, and it's likely that they have been warned that something similar could happen.

"As for their effectiveness, they can be effective, depending on the sanctions. We can see this from the behavior of Minister Xhelal Svecla, who suddenly ceased his activities in the north after the statement from the US Embassy in Pristina condemning the closure of provisional authorities. So, criticism definitely has some effect, not necessarily on all government officials, but on some of them. So, if they are individual sanctions, which is what is mostly talked about in Pristina, the possibility of sanctioning individuals can be effective because it creates pressure on the government to remove such individuals from executive positions," Andric Rakic says.

According to her, new sanctions are still under serious consideration.

"We recently had in Macron's congratulations for Independence Day, he talked about the next few weeks being crucial, that essentially President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani submits the CSM statute to the Constitutional Court. Based on that, we can say that at least, if nothing else, there is some deadline, if Kosovo wants the current EU measures to be lifted, it must adhere to these things that have been given, local elections, and sending the statute by a certain deadline, presumably related to a meeting of the EU Council, where a decision on lifting measures could be made," our interlocutor notes.

As she emphasizes, if the desired results are not sought by then, it can be argued that the measures will not be suspended, and there may potentially be a formal expansion of those measures to include the CSM.

"Because the measures currently imposed were introduced on June 3 and were primarily due to mayors, quick local elections were sought, mayors were asked to work from alternative locations, the CSM was not included in that, and if, as requested in the coming weeks, it is not resolved, maybe the CSM will be on that list of conditions for lifting measures, at least as far as the EU is concerned," Andric Rakic believes.

She points out that it is indeed challenging to secure new packages of sanctions in the EU because the consent of all 27 members is required, while measures by the United States are easier to achieve if there is political will.

"I think only sanctions targeting individuals can happen because economic sanctions or business sanctions, on the one hand, are not fair because citizens do not make political decisions, and on the other hand, their impact is really questionable given the current state of the Kosovo economy. It is at a very low point, exports have dropped by 100 million, the trade deficit is 85 percent, and there's not much you can do to influence it, to make the situation worse than it already is. It's already very alarming, and that is why I assume that only those sanctions aimed at representatives of the Government of Kosovo, i.e., personal sanctions for people making the policies they do, can occur," Andric Rakic concludes.