Ashton clinches Kosovo-Serbia deal

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 19.04.13
Publication Date 19/04/2013
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Serbia and its former province of Kosovo initialled an EU-brokered accord ( First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalisation of Relations ) on the 19 April 2013 aimed at normalising relations between the Balkan neighbours.

Under the deal, Serbs in northern Kosovo will have their own police and appeal court.

Both sides also agreed to not block each others efforts to seek EU membership.

The EU has said it would open EU membership talks with Serbia if the country relinquished its de facto control over northern Kosovo.

The agreement did not cover the issue of the formal recognition of Kosovo as an independent country by Serbia.

All parties would still have to formally sign the agreement in the coming days.

On the 22 April 2013 the European Commission adopted a proposal that would allow Kosovo to participate in EU programmes. If the Council agrees, and once the agreement is signed by both sides, Kosovo would be able to participate in 22 EU programmes. Other countries that are part of the European Union's Stabilisation and Association Process already have such agreements in place.

In addition, the European Commission recommended to EU member states that negotiations be opened with Serbia on EU accession, and with Kosovo on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU.

Kosovo's parliament endorsed the deal late on the 21 August 2013 by 89 votes to seven. Serbia's Cabinet approved the EU-brokered deal on the 22 April 2013. A parliamentary vote was still pending, but approval was considered secure. However, some in Belgrade and Pristina disapproved.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://euobserver.com/enlargement/119873
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Kosovo and Serbia: will they or won't they? http://www.europeansources.info/record/kosovo-and-serbia-will-they-or-wont-they/
European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/13/353: Statement by President Barroso on the agreement in the EU-facilitated dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-353_en.pdf
European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/13/351: Commissioner Štefan Füle's reaction to the results of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-351_en.pdf
EU - EEAS: Press Release, A-216/13: Remarks by High Representative Catherine Ashton on the EU-facilitated dialogue http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/136875.pdf
BBC News, 19.04.13: Serbia and Kosovo reach EU-brokered landmark accord http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22222624
EUObserver: First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalization of Relations http://euobserver.com/media/src/e04cf94895edb5ad13bdcff237ea2008.pdf
Deutsche Welle, 20.04.13: Serbia and Kosovo sign historic agreement http://www.dw.de/serbia-and-kosovo-sign-historic-agreement/a-16758946
Deutsche Welle, 20.04.13: Commentary: The most expensive Serbian word http://www.dw.de/commentary-the-most-expensive-serbian-word/a-16758826
France24, 20.04.13: Kosovo Serbs feel betrayed by historic deal http://www.france24.com/en/20130420-kosovo-serbs-feel-betrayed-historic-deal
France24, 19.04.13: Serbia and Kosovo reach historic accord http://www.france24.com/en/20130419-europe-brussels-serbia-kosovo-historic-deal
European Council: President: Press Release, EUCO/90/13: Statement by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, on the occasion of the agreement within the facilitated dialogue on the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/136877.pdf
Blog: Public Service Europe, 19.04.13: Ashton secures 'historic' Serbia-Kosovo deal http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/3359/ashton-secures-historic-serbia-kosovo-deal
EurActiv, 22.04.13: After deal with Kosovo, Serbia to seek date for EU accession talks http://www.euractiv.com/enlargement/serbia-request-date-opening-eu-a-news-519254
BBC News, 22.04.13: EU Commission: 'Start Serbia membership talks' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22245931
Blog: The Economist: Eastern Approaches, 20.04.13: A breakthrough at last http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2013/04/serbia-and-kosovo-0
Danas, Politika, Blic & 4 others, 22.04.13: Everyone’s a winner (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/press-review/3707111-everyone-s-winner
European Commission: RAPID: Press Release, IP/13/348: Commission proposes an agreement to allow Kosovo* to participate in EU programmes http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-348_en.pdf
European Commission: RAPID: Press Release, IP/13/347: Serbia and Kosovo*: historic agreement paves the way for decisive progress in their EU perspectives http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-347_en.pdf
Deutsche Welle, 22.04.13: Serbian government approves deal with Kosovo http://www.dw.de/serbian-government-approves-deal-with-kosovo/a-16761840
European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/13/360: Statement by Commissioner Štefan Füle following the General Affairs Council http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-360_en.htm
EUObserver, 23.04.13: Kosovo-Serbia deal shows value of EU diplomatic service (commentary feature) http://euobserver.com/opinion/119903
BBC News, 24.04.13: EU's Ashton sees 'brave' Kosovo deal as breakthrough http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22278542
BBC News, 13.05.13: Aleksandar Vucic: Kosovo Serbs 'should accept deal' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22506485
EUObserver, 31.05.13: First deadline expires on Kosovo-Serbia plan http://euobserver.com/enlargement/120331
SEESOX: Serbia/Kosovo: The Brussels Agreements and Beyond, January 2014 http://www.sant.ox.ac.uk/seesox/workshopreports/Serbia-Kosovo%20Workshop%20report.pdf
ESO: Background information: Ashton, Balkan officials nominated for Nobel Peace Prize http://www.europeansources.info/record/ashton-balkan-officials-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize/

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