Aleksandar Vucic says a unilateral decision of the Kosovo government to take over Trepca "would deal a heavy blow to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue."

According to Pristina-based daily Koha Ditore, the government of Kosovo adopted the bill modifying the law on public enterprises, paving the way for the Kosovo government to take over the ownership of the Mining, Metallurgical and Chemical Combine Trepca.

The presidency of the assembly of Kosovo decided - contrary to the rules of procedure - to debate the bill under urgent procedure at the session scheduled for January 19.

British Foreign Secretary Hammond has said Serbia should implement the Brussels agreement on normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

The implementation of the Brussels agreement on normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is important for Serbia’s membership into the European Union, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Thursday.

Hammond made the remarks after meeting Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in the Serbian capital Belgrade.

The Minister without Portfolio, Edita Tahiri, met with the Ambassador of France in Kosovo, Maryse Daviet as well as with the leading officials of the international airport “Adem Jashari.”

They valued friendly relations between Kosovo and France and expressed joint determination to deepen cooperation in the fields of mutual interest.

British Ambassador to Kosovo Ian Cliff said that establishment of association/community of Serb municipalities will be a difficult process. He announced that the issue will be discussed in the upcoming rounds of Pristina-Belgrade dialogue. Cliff made the comments in Prizren during a meeting with the head of Serbian Orthodox Church, Bishop Teodosije. Apart from the establishment of association/community of Serb municipalities, another issue that will not be easy, according to Cliff, involves the functioning of the courts in the north.

The implementation of past agreements remains a major issue ahead of a new phase in EU-brokered talks. Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign-policy chief, has called for a resumption of talks to normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia on 9 February, following a six-month hiatus caused by the protracted formation of a Kosovar government.
Though bilateral in nature, the talks have enabled both countries to drive ahead towards membership of the EU, despite Serbia’s continued refusal to recognise Kosovo as a state.

Agreement on free movement and recognition of vehicle insurance policies between Kosovo and Serbia was planned to enter into force on January but this has not yet happened. In a Facebook post, Rrahim Pacolli, head of Pristina delegation in talks on insurance policies, said that in the last meeting held in Brussels, the Serbian side did not agree to certain points of the agreement. These points are expected to be addressed in the next meeting which Pacolli hopes will take place this month.

Opening of first chapters in EU accession negotiations with Serbia is the first goal, but the success and speed of the process will depend on Serbia's progress.

 
This is according to Latvian FM Edgars Rinkevics, who currently chairs the EU Council of Ministers as Latvia on January 1 took over EU's rotating six months presidency.

Supporting the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will be a priority for Eulex next year, Eulex chief Gabriele Meucci has said, expressing satisfaction with the fact that the dialogue will resume as early as February.

Eulex will work on implementation of technical details of the agreement, in particular in the area of the judiciary, Meucci said in an interview with Tanjug, expressing hope that the mission will succeed in integrating the judiciary in northern Kosovo and establish courts with Serb judges and prosecutors.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, in an interview for Radio Kosova, said that the agenda of talks between Pristina and Belgrade will be known on 10 February. "The first meeting in Brussels will be in February, but we will be informed for the agenda of talks on 10 February," said Mustafa.