In its attempts to get closer to the EU, Serbia needs to establish mechanisms of cooperation with EULEX, the EU Mission in Kosovo, which it has opposed for quite some time. Serbia needs this also to get the visa liberalization with the EU. This is all fine and nice however the legitimate question being avoided is what Kosovo gets out of this?

by: Fatos Kabashi

The authorities in Kosovo have rightly rejected any possibility of someone making an arrangement on Kosovo’s behalf. This position of the Kosovan authorities was proven right immediately after the launch of the discussion when Serbian Minister Bogdanovic said that the signing of protocols between Serbia and EULEX is a victory for Serbia since it demonstrates that Kosovo is not a state. Unfortunately, despite our best expectations, no one in the EU did not stand up to this false interpretation of Minister Bogdanovic and rejected any political fall out of the so called technical agreements. Without a denial by the EU, Serbia can easily send the protocols to the International Court of Justice as evidence on Serbia’s behalf. If Kosovo allows this is like shooting itself in the foot.
The Swedish EU Presidency recently issued a statement implying that the rejection of Prishtina is not in line with the EU aspirations of Kosovo. This was very odd to many of us independent voices in Kosovo since we had the impression that some in the EU find it easier to bash the weak rather than deal with the strong. How can Serbia be in line with the EU aspirations when all they declare, publicly with a strong echo, is that they are going to work to further isolate Kosovo? Since when isolationism is in line with EU aspirations?
What guarantees did the EU give to the people of Kosovo that these agreements with Belgrade are completely neutral and will not damage the continuous process of the consolidation of the state of Kosovo? Or we should also ask the other question. What does Kosovo get in return? Why we should do favors to Serbia in their path towards the EU if Serbia does not want to do anything for Kosovo?
Kosovo is already doing a lot in its selection of gestures of good will despite the fact that some are damaging for Kosovo. Citizens of Serbia are not required to pay insurance tax for their vehicles while entering Kosovo while Kosovo citizens can not enter Serbia without paying Serbian taxes. Kosovo recognizes Serbian license plates and documents while Serbia arrests Kosovo citizens if they are found with Kosovo documents or license plates. These are just few of the examples of Kosovo’s positive attitude towards Serbia even though Serbia does its negative best to damage Kosovo. Faced with all these negativism from Serbia why we should do more for Serbia? Why we should help Serbia get free visa regime with the EU when citizens of Kosovo can not get a Schengen visa in their passports? We think that it is time that Kosovo gets something in return from Serbia. If Serbia needs these agreements for their EU path, the EU should pressure Serbia to give something in return to Kosovo. We support the EU integration aspirations of Serbia but Serbia should support Kosovo on the same path as well. This is the only way forward.

Final remarks!
Fear from radicals made the EU support the so-called democratic forces in Serbia. In contrast to this in Kosovo “Vetevendosja” Movement, which recently is staging protests against the EU, is at symbolic numbers compared to the radicals in Serbia. Whereas the public opinion in Serbia had supported the vandalism of the radicals, the public opinion in Kosovo continues to reject vandalism as a political tool. However we dare say it that if Serbia continues to get free favors both from the EU and Kosovo, the legitimacy and the public support for our democratic elected leaders would fade away and the radicals would gain momentum.

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