EU: Serbia-Kosovo ID document dispute is resolved

• According to the EU, Serbia and Kosovo have resolved their disagreement on the flow of citizens across their borders.
• Josep Borrell, the head of EU foreign affairs, tweeted, “We have a deal.”
• The EU, and Serbia promised to eliminate entry/exit paperwork for Kosovo ID holders and Kosovo agreed not to implement them for Serbian ID holders.

According to the EU, Serbia and Kosovo have resolved their disagreement on the flow of citizens across their borders.

Josep Borrell, the head of EU foreign affairs, tweeted, “We have a deal.”

According to him, as part of negotiations with the EU, Serbia promised to eliminate entry/exit paperwork for Kosovo ID holders and Kosovo agreed not to implement them for Serbian ID holders.

However, the disputed usage of Serbian licence plates for cars issued in north Kosovo has not yet been resolved by the two nations.

Kosovo, which has a large ethnic Albanian population, declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia has never recognised the decision and still views Kosovo as being a part of its territory.

The administration, which is dominated by Albanians, and the Serb minority have long-standing tense relations. Civil disobedience broke out as the tensions reached their peak late last month.

Kosovo: Why is trouble flaring up again?

The Kosovo administration intended to enact a new law requiring ethnic Serbs to drive with licence plates from Kosovo and for anyone entering the nation through Serbia to have special entrance documents.

As a result of their refusal to recognise Kosovo’s independence, about 50,000 residents in these districts reject having Kosovan licence plates.

In the Serbia-bordering northern part of Kosovo, ethnic Serbs blocked highways and reportedly fired bullets in retaliation.

The new rules’ implementation has been delayed by the Kosovo government for a month.

After he “received promises” from Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Mr Borrell claimed that negotiations mediated by the EU had now resulted in an agreement over the identity documents.

“Kosovo Serbs, as well as all other citizens, will be able to travel freely between Kosovo and Serbia using their ID cards,” he tweeted.

The problem with car licence plates has not been fixed, yet.

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