A year ago, Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic signed with his Kosovo counterpart Hashim Thaci Brussels agreement, which officially launched the process of normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.
The document, consisting of 15 points envisaged the abolition of judicial and security structures of Serbia in Kosovo, participation of Serbs in Kosovo local elections and the formation of Community of Serbian municipalities, as a kind of guarantee of the survival of Serbs in the area.
The expression “historic agreement” was perceived as betrayal and discouragement by the Serbs from Kosovo, as a rally in northern Kosovska Mitrovica showed (from which was stated that they will never allow the implementation of the agreement). At the same time, from the protest march in Belgrade, organized by the Democratic Party of Serbia, was requested annulment of the agreement. The majority of Serbs living in Kosovo soon overcame feelings of discouragement and accepted what is commonly referred to as “the reality on the ground.” Among other things, local elections were held, which will mostly be remembered by the variations related to the election of the mayor of the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, while Serbs, employed in the Ministry of Interior, begin the integration in the Kosovo police.
The biggest reward for the efforts of Belgrade, in connection with the implementation of the Brussels agreement, is related to the official start of negotiations on Serbia’s EU accession. Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU and mediator in the dialogue, reported in December to the foreign ministers of the EU that Serbia has fulfilled all the conditions required for the opening of accession negotiations, which began on 21 January this year. Without doubt, big encouragement is also the fact that the 23 round of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which was held on March 31, was completed with the achievement of substantial progress, in the field of justice. By all accounts, the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina will continue after the formation of a government of Aleksandar Vucic.
Shifting the Kosovo issue in a diplomatic arena and reached agreements certainly achieved success which has exceeded expectations of the most experts on the Balkan. However, considering challenges that await the two parties in the next phases of dialogue and a number of practical issues that need to be resolved , including the establishment of the Community of Serbian municipalities, it will take a lot of time until normalization of relations will be fully implemented. In this context, Belgrade and Pristina may consider the German- French reconciliation, which five decades ago became the motivation of European integration process.
