In the new IKV Brief “Serbia-Kosovo Deal: A Shared Victory for Serbia, Kosovo, and the EU” (IKV Brief No:21), IKV Junior Researcher Yeliz Şahin sheds light on the landmark April 2013 deal initialled by Belgrade and Pristina towards the normalization of their bilateral relations.

In the Brief, it is argued that the April 2013 deal is not only a victory for Belgrade’s and Pristina’s respective European perspectives but also a victory for EU’s Enlargement Policy, which has fallen victim to the ongoing intra-EU debate about “enlargement fatigue”. The deal has opened a new chapter in both Belgrade’s and Pristina’s relations with the EU.

Thanks to the deal and the High Representative’s favourable opinion, Belgrade received a green light to start accession talks with the EU and Pristina started negotiations towards a Stabilisation and Association Agreement- an initial step towards submitting a formal application for EU membership. It is argued that the deal which is also a product of High Representative Ashton’s intensive diplomatic efforts marks a triumph for the newly created post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, which has faced immense criticism from member state capitals.
Nonetheless, the Brief also takes into account the contentious issue of North Kosovo and the challenges as regards to the transition from parallel structures to the Association of Serb majority municipalities. It is argued that despite the positive atmosphere created with the deal, its success will be judged by its implementation which will require cooperation of the North Kosovo Serbs.

Click here to read the new IKV Brief titled “Serbia-Kosovo Deal: A Shared Victory for Serbia, Kosovo, and the EU”.