EEAS Deputy Managing Director for Europe concludes visit to Kosovo

On the sidelines of the Forum, DMD Makovec met with Kosovo's President, Vjosa Osmani, discussing developments in EU-Kosovo relations and the upcoming mayoral recall vote scheduled for April 21, 2024.

Additionally, DMD Makovec, together with EUSR/Head of Office Szunyog held a series of bilateral meetings with several high-level Kosovo officials, including the First Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development, and Dialogue, Bislimi, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Sveçla, the President of the Central Election Commission, Kreshnik Radoniqi, as well as representatives of the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK), Kosovo Police, as well as opposition parties PDK, LDK and AAK. DMD Makovec reiterated the commitment of the EU to the membership perspective of the Western Balkans region and expressed support to Kosovo's EU path. He stressed the importance that all citizens can exercise their democratic rights in the upcoming mayoral recall vote. Ahead of the Chief negotiators' meeting in Brussels, he reiterated the urgency to address the negative impact of CBK's Regulation on Cash Operations on non-majority communities. In the context of normalisation of relations with Serbia, he also recalled the commitments of Kosovo in the EU-facilitated Dialogue, in particular the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb Majority Municipalities in Kosovo. He briefed the Heads of EU Missions, and had an exchange of views with the US Ambassador.

DMD Makovec also travelled to Mitrovica North (Clinical Hospital Center), Osojane/Osojan (school), where he met civil society organizations, as well as other representatives of health and education institutions. The impact of CBK's Regulation on Cash Operations, as well as other problems the communities are facing, were discussed. With representatives of Srpska Lista, DMD Makovec addressed a series of issues and called on them to reconsider their decision and participate to the mayoral recall vote. He also visited the Decani Monastery and had an exchange with Fr. Sava.

He was briefed by EULEX Kosovo on the security situation and exchanged views with the Commander of KFOR. DMD Makovec concluded his visit to Kosovo today by meeting representatives of Pristina-based think tanks focusing on security, disinformation, and inter-ethnic issues.