A Serb Association in Kosovo Would Threaten Integration and Peace

In the meantime, however, Kosovars have had to learn that this is more like the famous carrot in front of the donkey's mouth. Confidence in improvement and belief in EU support in the integration process have suffered greatly in recent years since little has changed for Kosovo in the international arena. Today, within the EU, Kosovo is recognised as sovereign by only 22 of the bloc's 27 members. It is the only country in the Western Balkans that still does not have visa-free access to the Union, and it has made little progress in its attempt to at least join the Council of Europe.

The formation of a 'Serb Association' in Kosovo is an essential part of an April 2013 agreement signed by Kosovo and Serbia under EU auspices. In return, Serbia pledged to no longer impede the process of Kosovo's international recognition and integration. The Kosovo parliament ratified the agreement within weeks. The Serbian parliament has never followed suit.

One might assume, therefore, that an agreement from a decade ago that was not even ratified by both parties could hardly be of great importance, especially since Serbia has been vigorously undermining Kosovo's efforts to gain greater international recognition and integration ever since, in clear contravention of its commitment not to do so.

The Constitutional Court in Kosovo, in turn, found the specific provisions of the agreement concerning the 'Serb Association' unconstitutional in many respects. Such a mono-ethnic organisation with executive powers fundamentally violates the spirit of the constitution, which understands Kosovo society as multi-ethnic. Needless to say, the agreement has not been implemented.

Kosovo is not a 'multi-ethnic state'

Dosens of Kosovo Albanian citizens protest...