Latinovic: Conditions for lifting sanctions on Kosovo have not been met, Borrell's proposal a goodwill gesture at the end of his term

Former ambassador to the OSCE, Branka Latinovic, believes that the proposal by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, to lift the sanctions imposed on Kosovo by the EU last summer due to Pristina's failure to take steps towards de-escalation in the north, is a goodwill gesture at the end of his term, even though the conditions for this have not been met.

Latinovic recalls that Kosovo's application for membership in the Council of Europe has been put on hold for a long time, causing a high degree of dissatisfaction in Pristina, and that this move by Borrell is, in some way, a form of compensation.

"Of course, the conditions have not been met, and this is not sustainable, but he made a pragmatic move. Politics is about achieving interests, not rules and desires, and in this case, obviously, some other interests prevailed to try to give some instrument of appeasement, primarily related to the drafting of the statute and the formation of the CSM," Latinovic notes.

Although both Miroslav Lajcak and Borrell come from countries that have not recognized Kosovo, they were, as she points out, serving the institutions they represent, namely, the EU.

"As we can see, there were no differences in their persistence to continue negotiations and reach appropriate agreements. Both have made efforts to invigorate the negotiations, but unfortunately, the situation on the ground, primarily in Kosovo and Metohija, was such that these plans could not be realized, resulting in those minimalist sanctions imposed by the EU regarding specific actions by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti. I think this is a gesture attempting to mitigate Kurti's position and actions, dissatisfied with the fact that Kosovo's candidacy in the Council of Europe has been put on long-term hold. This causes a high degree of dissatisfaction in Pristina, and this is a form of compensation," Latinovic says.

She notes that Borrell's mandate has expired and that he is in a technical mandate since there have been elections for the European Parliament and the procedure for electing a new president or president of the European Commission and other high-ranking EU officials is already underway. Reports in the media suggest that the Estonian Prime Minister is the new candidate for the position of High Representative instead of Borrell.