EU: Prohibition for the Serbs to vote in Kosovo in the elections for the Serbian parliament goes against the principle of protecting the rights of non-majority communities

The European Union considers that the decision of the Kosovo authorities not to allow Kosovo Serbs to vote in Kosovo in the elections for the Serbian Parliament is not in line with the spirit of dialogue, the principle of protecting the rights of non-majority communities, and the building of trust between Kosovo and Serbia, Koha reports.

In response, the spokesperson for the European Commission for Foreign Policy and Security, Peter Stano, stated that the EU recommended the restoration of the practice to enable Kosovo Serbs to vote in Kosovo during the Serbian parliamentary elections on December 17.

"We regret to note that the Kosovo authorities have once again not allowed the established practice for Kosovo Serbs to vote in Kosovo in the elections for the Serbian Parliament with the facilitation of the OSCE. Therefore, Serbian voters will have to travel to cities in southern Serbia to vote in the upcoming parliamentary elections on December 17. This decision is not in line with the spirit of dialogue, the principle of protecting the rights of non-majority communities, and the building of trust between Kosovo and Serbia. The EU recommends the restoration of the established practice of enabling Kosovo Serbs to vote in Kosovo during the Serbian parliamentary elections on December 17, with the facilitation of the OSCE", the EU’s written response states.