Savkovic: Unlikely that Pristina will start the CSM formation before the elections

Although under Berlin's influence, the Kosovo Government has lifted the ban on importing Serbian goods at one of the border crossings, senior adviser at the ISAC Fund, Marko Savkovic, says he does not believe that Pristina will now initiate the process of forming the Community of Serb Municipalities, despite the fact that Germany’s Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, has stated that Germany wishes for the European draft statute of the CSM to be submitted to the Constitutional Court for review.

“Germany has shown much understanding for Pristina’s rather rigid stance and for the actions of the government led by Prime Minister Kurti, which have often not been in the spirit of dialogue nor constructive. I would like to see Germany have some influence. However, with elections approaching in Kosovo, the idea that the process surrounding the Community will be initiated now seems unlikely to me. I haven’t heard any voices speaking affirmatively in the context of the Community of Serb Municipalities,” Savkovic told Kosovo Online.

He added that a long-sought Solomon-like solution had been found regarding CEFTA, which might signal a return to the spirit of dialogue, but he believes this will not significantly impact the prospects of the CSM.

When asked whether Berlin expects Belgrade to make the first move so that Pristina might be "pressured" into beginning the implementation of the CSM, Savkovic noted that Belgrade had already done a lot.

"Belgrade is essentially left to call on and hope to motivate its representatives to participate in Kosovo’s parliamentary elections and thus return to the institutions. Only with the return of Serbian representatives, that is, legitimate representatives, to those institutions, will we once again have representatives of the Serbian community in Kosovo's political life, which is of tremendous importance both in the broader context of dialogue and for the everyday lives of people," Savkovic emphasized.