The EU supports the initiative to withdraw the mayors of the municipalities in the north through a petition

The EU had shown its readiness to provide legal and technical support for the holding of elections in four municipalities in the north of Kosovo, EU Foreign and Security Policy official Zoi Muletier told RTV21.

"The EU has taken note of the decision of the Minister of Local Self-Government to form a working group for petitions with the aim of removing the mayors in the north. The EU is waiting to receive more information from the authorities about the next concrete steps that would lead to the holding of elections. The EU requested in a statement dated June 3 that extraordinary local elections be held in the north of Kosovo without delay. The EU is ready to provide legal and technical support for the petitions for the withdrawal of mayors of municipalities in the north of Kosovo for any process that would lead to the holding of extraordinary local elections," Muletier told RTV21.

This position of the EU followed after the Government of Kosovo initiated legal procedures for the removal of the mayors elected in the north of the country, which opened the way for calling new elections in four northern municipalities.

The Ministry of Administration and Local Self-Government has appointed a working group for the preparation of Administrative Instructions for determining the procedure for the citizens' initiative for the removal of municipal presidents.

According to the decision signed by Minister Elbert Krasniqi, this group must complete the draft of the Administrative Instruction by September 1.

The document also states that the working group will be supported by the EU office, representatives of embassies, and the OSCE.

This initiative comes as another step in the implementation of the agreement reached between the Government of Kosovo and the European Union to reduce tensions in the north and return to the dialogue process with Serbia.