Serbia and Kosovo – Building on new momentum to ensure lasting peace

The recent EU-brokered agreement between Serbia and Kosovo offers the opportunity to create lasting peace within the region. However, both governments must now move beyond motivations that are only based on further integration into Europe and demonstrate real commitment to the implementation of the agreement in an accountable, effective and transparent manner, says Ferdinand Nikolla, Kosovo Project Coordinator.

On 19 April as a result of a series of European Union (EU) facilitated talks, Serbia and Kosovo reached an encouraging "First Agreement on the Principles Governing the Normalisation of Relations" between the two countries.  This agreement marks the most significant step forward since the end of the Kosovo war in 1999 and is expected to enhance their European integration prospects and contribute to peace and stability in the region. It is imperative that neither Kosovo nor Serbia block, or encourage others to block, the other side's progress towards closer ties with the EU, and that they adopt clear implementation plans for the agreement.

The April agreement builds on previous deals struck on religious, cultural heritage and liaison arrangements including mutual recognition of university degrees, the exchange of data on civil registries and cadastral (property) records, Kosovo Customs stamp, the EU-developed Integrated Border Management System at crossing points, and Kosovo’s representation at international forums. The European Commission’s report in April 2013 notes progress towards the implementation of the above mentioned agreements and recommends that negotiations for accession to the European Union should be opened with Serbia as well as talks with Kosovo on reaching a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU.

However, there is a real challenge for both governments to demonstrate genuine willingness, commitment, and determination to go beyond their aspirations for integration into Europe. It is essential that the EU-brokered agreement is communicated not as something the countries have to do for the sake of their future EU accession but as a result of a genuine commitment to a better relationship between the two countries, done for the benefit of their own peoples.  

There are clear indications from the the perceptions and attitudes of people in both countries that they have reacted positively to the change. However, more work is needed to address the high degree of scepticism, denial and disenfranchisement of people living in the north of Kosovo. The EU should make clear to both governments that the EU integration process is first and foremost about the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, especially in the north, by providing greater freedom of movement for people and goods.

For the agreement to last it is imperative that both governments commit time and resources immediately. An implementation plan with an implementation committee must be formed to ensure a transparent, inclusive and participatory process. Next steps must produce small but substantial and tangible results to capture and build on the momentum and get broad-based support and ownership. Governments should be accountable for implementation and progress – or lack of progress – should be made public.

But ensuring the agreement is turned into a concrete reality is not only the responsibility of the political class towards the people. Governments also have a duty to include the population in this process and civil society organisations have an important role in this. They must closely monitor the implementation of the agreement and provide open channels of communication between political leaders and citizens in these two countries, so governments of both countries are transparent and accountable for their future action.

The EU should also provide its support to move the agreement reached in Brussels forward, as well as creating a conducive environment in the north of Kosovo to produce tangible results. This means supporting them to establish structures and security and justice provision that addresses the needs and concerns of the Kosovo Serb community in the north while preserving the functionality of the Kosovo institutions and legal and administrative arrangements in Kosovo.

This historic agreement affects the lives of the entire population: the people of both countries are central to developing new relations and creating societies that address grievances from the past and look to a more peaceful future.

Ferdinand Nikolla is project coordinator for Kosovo. Saferworld works in partnership with members of the Forum for Security such as Forum for Civic Initiatives (FIQ), Institute for Advanced Studies (GAP) and Institute for Policy Development (INDEP).

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“For the agreement to last it is imperative that both governments commit time and resources to implement it immediately.”

Ferdinand Nikolla