Serb List sends letter to Kallas: EU should mediate de-escalation and ensure protection of basic rights and freedoms of Serbs in Kosovo

Representatives of the Serb List have sent a letter to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, highlighting urgent issues that, they warn, seriously threaten the Serbian community in Kosovo. They appealed to the EU to ensure the protection of the basic rights and freedoms of the Serbian population, as well as respect for the principles of international law and previously reached agreements, TV Most reports.

In the letter, which TV Most has seen, it is emphasized that the security and existential conditions for Serbs in northern Kosovo have significantly deteriorated due to continuous unilateral actions by the authorities in Pristina. Measures such as police raids, the violent takeover of public institutions, and arrests without legal grounds have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

As stated in the letter, this is the reason the EU was asked to mediate an urgent de-escalation and to ensure the protection of the basic rights and freedoms of the Serbian population.

“They also appeal to the European Union, as the main guarantor of the Brussels process, to ensure the fulfillment of a key obligation – the implementation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, as agreed in the Brussels agreements of 2013 and 2015. The CSM must be granted executive powers to provide meaningful self-governance and protection of collective rights,” the letter states.

The representatives of the Serb List also pointed out that the exodus of Serbs from Kosovo is accelerating due to targeted repression, legal uncertainty, and systemic discrimination.

“The takeover of institutions funded by Belgrade, combined with the absence of alternative services, threatens livelihoods and social stability. Particularly concerning are reports of institutional and gender-based violence against Serbian women, which local authorities fail to address,” the Serb List noted, appealing for urgent international attention to this alarming trend.

The letter also calls for increased and more visible presence of KFOR, especially in northern Kosovo, as a necessary measure of protection and deterrence against further unilateral actions by the Pristina authorities.

“Strengthening KFOR's role in maintaining peace and protecting local communities is essential for restoring trust and preventing the escalation of tensions,” the Serb List representatives stressed.

The letter also recalls dozens of Serbian citizens arrested in what appear to be politically motivated and procedurally flawed proceedings, many of whom face charges without evidence or legal basis, including participation in peaceful protests.

Therefore, the Serb List proposes the formation of an independent international legal oversight team to ensure the rights of detainees are respected and legal proceedings are conducted lawfully.

The letter also clearly opposes any unilateral move to open the main bridge over the Ibar River to motor vehicle traffic. Such a move, it warns, would violate existing agreements and could jeopardize the fragile ethnic balance in the area.

“We believe such decisions must be subject to prior consultation and consensus within the Brussels dialogue,” the letter states.

The Serb List representatives appealed to the European Union to reaffirm its role as mediator in the dialogue process and to call for an immediate end to Pristina’s unilateral measures.

“Only a sincere return to dialogue and full implementation of existing agreements can restore trust and enable a lasting and just solution,” the letter said.

The Serb List underscored its continued commitment to peace, democratic values, and constructive engagement.

“We believe that the European Union, under the leadership of Kaja Kallas, can play a crucial role in ensuring the protection of the Serbian community in Kosovo and Metohija, and in upholding the principles of international law and already concluded agreements,” the letter from the Serb List concludes.