Serbia and Kosovo have both declared their intention to join the EU. However, despite some initial successes, such as the Brussels Agreement of 2013, the dialogue facilitated by the EU and initiated in 2011 has stalled. The reasons for the very limited results are multiple, ranging from the internal political situation in both countries, to ambiguous and asymmetrical expectations of the normalisation agreement. Currently, the most sensitive issue, the setting-up of the association/community of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo, agreed in 2013, shows that the challenges are rooted deeply in history and have a much broader regional context.

EPRS podcast - Policy: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue: The rocky road towards a comprehensive normalisation agreement

Kosovo is a potential candidate for EU accession. It unilaterally declared its independence in February 2008.

All but five Member States (Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain) have recognised Kosovo’s independence. In the region, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have not recognised Kosovo. A Visa Liberalisation Roadmap was issued in June 2012. In July 2018, the Commission confirmed that Kosovo had fulfilled the last criterion. The European Parliament followed suit and decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, which are ongoing. After a landmark agreement on normalising relations (the ‘Brussels Agreement’) was reached in April 2013 by Belgrade and Pristina, the European Council decided to open negotiations on an SAA with Kosovo in June 2013. The SAA entered into force on 1 April 2016. Kosovo’s future EU integration — like Serbia’s — remains closely linked to the EU-facilitated high-level dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which should lead to a legally binding comprehensive agreement on the normalisation of their relations

EU - Kosovo

Kosovo is a potential candidate for EU accession. It unilaterally declared its independence in February 2008.

All but five Member States (Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain) have recognised Kosovo’s independence. In the region, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have not recognised Kosovo. A Visa Liberalisation Roadmap was issued in June 2012. In July 2018, the Commission confirmed that Kosovo had fulfilled the last criterion. The European Parliament followed suit and decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations, which are ongoing. After a landmark agreement on normalising relations (the ‘Brussels Agreement’) was reached in April 2013 by Belgrade and Pristina, the European Council decided to open negotiations on an SAA with Kosovo in June 2013. The SAA entered into force on 1 April 2016. Kosovo’s future EU integration — like Serbia’s — remains closely linked to the EU-facilitated high-level dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which should lead to a legally binding comprehensive agreement on the normalisation of their relations.

See more on our <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/eu-kosovo-8th-legislative-term_16303_pk">previous package</a> on the 8th legislative term.

EU - Kosovo (2019-2020)

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina

Hannes SWOBODA, Doris PACK, David HAMMERSTEIN

Members of the European Parliament make a visit to Kosovo - Visit to a nearby Serbian village

Hannes SWOBODA, Doris PACK, Fatmir SEJDIU

Members of the European Parliament make a visit to Kosovo - Meeting with President Fatmir Sejdiu in Pristina

MEPs debate Kosovo’s work to secure candidate country status and urge Serbia and Kosovo to engage in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue to make progress on this. Closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA,DE), Rapporteur.

2022 Report on Kosovo: closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA,DE), Rapporteur

MEPs debate Kosovo’s work to secure candidate country status and urge Serbia and Kosovo to engage in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue to make progress on this.

2022 Report on Kosovo: MEPs debate

MEPs debate Kosovo’s work to secure candidate country status and urge Serbia and Kosovo to engage in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue to make progress on this. Opening statements by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2022 Report on Kosovo: opening statements by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina in the European Parliament in Brussels: arrival, welcome; and roundtable

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina: arrival, welcome; and roundtable

This infoclip illustrates some of the countries in the Western Balkans

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EU - Kosovo

EU - Kosovo (2019-2020)

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2022 Report on Kosovo: closing statements by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement and by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA,DE), Rapporteur

2022 Report on Kosovo: MEPs debate

2022 Report on Kosovo: opening statements by Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina: arrival, welcome; and roundtable

Infoclip: The Balkans

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David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina

Members of the European Parliament make a visit to Kosovo - Visit to a nearby Serbian village

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David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Miroslav LAJCAK, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina

Members of the European Parliament make a visit to Kosovo - Visit to a nearby Serbian village

Members of the European Parliament make a visit to Kosovo - Visit to a nearby Serbian village

Members of the European Parliament make a visit to Kosovo - Meeting with President Fatmir Sejdiu in Pristina

Members of the European Parliament make a visit to Kosovo - Visit to a nearby Serbian village

Members of the European Parliament make a visit to Kosovo - Visit to a nearby Serbian village

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