Massive migrant crisis: More than 12,000 Albanian migrants have arrived in the UK so far

Kosovo-Serbia relations remain heated

In November 2022, the apparent conciliatory relations between Kosovo and Serbia again diverted from peacemaking as the unresolved sovereignty dispute from 2008 between the two countries escalated. 

The decision of the Kosovo government to replace car license plates issued to Serbs by Serbian authorities with new license plates from the Republic of Kosovo is meeting strong opposition from the side of Kosovo Serbs. As a result, the long-discussed and postponed license-plates measures entered to force on November 1, 2022.  

Kosovo Serbs have responded by protesting through the withdrawal from state institutions, such as courts, police, parliament, government or municipal administrations, blocking roads in the Serb-dominated north of Kosovo, or participating in demonstrations. These events happened despite the fact that Kosovo has agreed to delay further legislation of confiscating outdated car registration numbers to reduce tensions on the stimulus of the European Union. 

The EU has been trying to mediate the conflict since 2013 to maintain peace through diplomacy and cooperation. “The Kosovo Serbs’ withdrawal from Kosovo institutions is not a solution to the current disputes and has the potential to escalate further the tensions on the ground”, expressed in a statement on November 5 by the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. Normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations is imperative to advance their membership in the EU.

“Diplomatic interventions, along with a top-level dialogue meeting on August 18, led to a temporary relief in the form of extended deadlines and promised to continue discussions. Yet, the parties’ willingness to risk dangerous confrontations on the ground, at best, set the process back.” Caroline Ziadeh, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo and head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), commented on the situation. Furthermore, Ziadeh mentioned that the deployment of Serbian troops could potentially escalate the situation to have “serious consequences”. 

North Macedonia and Albania are strengthening their cooperation to deal with the crisis

On November 14,  the Prime Ministers of Albania and North Macedonia issued a statement that the relations between North Macedonia and Albania have never been better, Dimitar Kovačevski and Edi Rama stated at a joint session in Skopje. Following the decision of the European Union to launch accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania sooner this year, countries want not only to walk on the European path together but also to mutually cooperate and deal with the challenges of the energy crisis, prime ministers confirmed. They want to do so, especially during the global economic and energy crisis, with severe challenges in providing electricity and food in the region of Western Balkans.

It was the second time that representatives of the two countries met for discussions in such a format and signed agreements and memoranda on several topics, including EU integration, defense, security, infrastructure, energy, culture, the fight against international crime, and railway connection. Furthermore, the two prime ministers who discussed the future and what could be done for their countries’ development and good neighborliness sent a clear message that North Macedonia must not stop seeking the European path but continue in its effort.

“The road to the EU will not be easy, neither for North Macedonia nor for Albania, but in the end, the great reward will be to be proud citizens and residents of the EU with our heads held high, to be richer, to have a better life and prosperity,” said prime minister Dimitar Kovačevski. 

One of the agreements that were signed refers to cooperation for the return of illegally exported icons recently found in Albania. In addition, the document enables the recovery of twenty-one icons to monasteries in North Macedonia. Dimitar Kovačevski and Edi Rama said this is only a confirmation of the new spirit of cooperation between the region’s countries and the continuation of the promotion of the Open Balkan partnership.

The Berlin Process as a hope for the normalization of relations? 

On November 3, the six Western Balkans countries signed three agreements during the Berlin Process. This format, created by former German chancellor Angela Merkel and launched in 2014, seeks to enhance regional integration by fostering rapprochement between the six states and the EU. The accords signed by leaders of the six countries will allow individuals’ free movement throughout the region and the reciprocal recognition of the professional qualifications of architects, doctors, and university degrees after two years of protracted discussions. The agreements are significant not just for regional integration but also in light of the ongoing hostilities between Serbia and Kosovo. 

Over the past week, there have been a few tensions at the border between these countries as Prishtina begins to implement a new cars’ license plate regulation, which requires all car owners in the country to use plates issued by the Kosovo government. However, German Chancellor Scholz expressed his optimism that the new agreement on reciprocal recognition will open the door also to future rapprochement between Kosovo and Serbia. According to him, the need to put regional disputes behind them is now to speed up the process of normalizing relations between countries. 

Meanwhile, the Franco-German plan to resolve the Serbia and Kosovo dispute leaked – again. Officials from the EU are now concerned that the latest escalations could halt any settlement between the two sides. Based on this concern, the plan focuses on normalizing ties from a shared EU future perspective, with the exchange of permanent missions – similar to embassies but at a lower level – being the most crucial part. Serbian representatives did not accept this proposal for a deal on Kosovo’s final status and its future relations with Serbia. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučic deemed this stance unacceptable because it goes against Serbia’s constitution, which expressly rejects the recognition of Kosovo. Ivica Dačic, Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the Franco-German plan implies the position that the independence of Kosovo is already a done deal that Serbia cannot accept.