EU wants negotiations on Serbian institutions in Kosovo

For the European Union, no healthcare and educational institutions, nor other structures supported by Serbia that provide basic social services, should be closed. On this issue, the EU's new envoy for dialogue, Peter Sorensen, should organize meetings with both sides in Brussels, reports Koha, noting that the Government of Kosovo has not stated whether it will agree to discuss this matter.

The EU opposed the recent action by Kosovo authorities to close offices in the north that were providing social services, calling it a unilateral action.

"Closing existing structures that provide basic social services to Kosovo Serbs and other communities, without previously agreed alternative arrangements, negatively impacts the daily life and living conditions of these communities and directly harms the efforts for normalization. These issues should be resolved between the parties. The EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue, Peter Sorensen, is ready to facilitate talks," said the EU spokesperson for Koha.

He emphasized that the official Brussels is waiting for details to confirm the facts about the operation from last Friday.

"We have noted that the Kosovo police conducted new operations against structures supported by Serbia in the north of Kosovo. Our Eulex mission is monitoring the situation on the ground, in accordance with its mandate. We are waiting for further details to confirm the facts. As previously stated, the status of these structures and services supported by Serbia should be resolved through dialogue with EU mediation. No healthcare and educational institutions supported by Serbia, nor other structures that provide basic social services, should be closed," said the EU spokesperson.

In addition to the EU, the United States and Germany have also opposed the closure of these offices.

The Government of Kosovo has not hinted whether it will accept discussing these issues in dialogue in Brussels, concludes Koha.