EU Mission in Kosovo: All decisions regarding the Mitrovica Bridge should take place within the Dialogue framework

Since this issue pertains to the EU-facilitated Dialogue, negotiations and all decisions regarding the Mitrovica Bridge should occur within the Dialogue framework, with the participation of the official delegations of both Kosovo and Serbia, according to a written response from the EU Mission in Kosovo to our portal.

The written response provided to the editorial office of Kosovo Online further emphasizes, "The opening of the Mitrovica Bridge is a subject of two agreements reached by the Parties under the EU-facilitated Dialogue in 2015 and 2016."

"Despite EU’s facilitation efforts over the years, the bridge remains closed for traffic. As this is an issue pertaining to the EU-facilitated Dialogue, the negotiations and any decisions related to the Bridge need to take place under the Dialogue with the participation of the official delegations of both Kosovo and Serbia. The EU continues to call on the Parties to implement all pending Dialogue agreements without delay, including the Agreement on the Bridge – and without any preconditions or linkages to unrelated issues. The EU remains ready to facilitate the talks. The EU also urges everyone to refrain from any provocative actions that could jeopardize the stability of the ground and distract the Parties from the implementation of the Agreement on the Path to Normalization of Relations – which should be their main priority," the EU Mission in Kosovo stated.

Earlier today, Veton Elshani, Deputy Commander of the Kosovo Police for the North region, stated that the Ibar Bridge would soon be opened and that discussions were underway with superiors on how this could be accomplished.

Following this statement, the Serb List reacted, stating that "the announcement by the regime of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti planning to open the main city bridge in North Mitrovica for vehicular traffic is absolutely unnecessary, unacceptable, and an escalatory move aimed at further destabilizing the situation on the ground."