Borrell: Vucic, Kurti agreed no further discussions needed on EU proposal

BRUSSELS - EU foreign policy and security chief Josep Borrell said on Monday evening Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Pristina's PM Albin Kurti had agreed at a trilateral meeting in Brussels that no further discussions were needed on an EU proposal on normalisation of Belgrade-Pristina relations, and announced that the text of the agreement would be published on the European External Action Service website shortly.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting with Vucic and Kurti, also attended by the EU special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak, Borrell said the discussions had been intense and that both parties had shown "responsible behaviour and readiness to find solutions."

"The parties have expressed their readiness that, with this Agreement, they will proceed swiftly with its implementation."

"I will convene another meeting between the two leaders in the course of March with the aim to finalise the discussions on the implementation annex – which will guide the implementation phase of the Agreement.

This implementation annex is an integral part of the Agreement, and it has yet to be finalised," he also said.

Borrell said the EU had "reminded the parties of their obligation to implement all past Dialogue agreements, which remain valid and binding."

"This Agreement is, above all, for the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia. It is not for the European Union: it is for the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia.

It sets out that people can move freely between Kosovo and Serbia using their own passports – mutually recognised – IDs and license plates. It entails that people can study and work without wondering whether their diplomas and where they obtained them may be an issue.

The Agreement can bring new economic opportunities through increased financial assistance, through business cooperation, and (through) new investments in Kosovo and Serbia.

It provides for better employment opportunities for everyone in Kosovo and Serbia without unnecessary bureaucracy. And it also means more trade, because certificates needed for import and export will not be an issue anymore," he said.

"For the Serbs in Kosovo, it means more security, certainty and predictability – when it comes to their protection and rights in Kosovo – including for the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian cultural and religious heritage sites. More security, certainty and predictability," he said.

"I hope the Agreement can also be the basis to build much-needed trust and overcome the legacy of the past," Borrell also said.