Pristina & Mitrovica, Kosovo - The Partnership for Peace Consortium (PfPC) Study Group on Regional Stability in Southeast Europe hosted its 47th workshop in Pristina and Mitrovica, Kosovo, Sept. 19-22. The event focused on the relationship between Kosovo and Serbia, exploring the difficulties of building trust in an area marred by a long history of political and ethnic tensions. With recent developments, such as the Washington Agreement in 2020 and the EU’s Franco-German initiative in 2023, the workshop aimed to foster dialogue and examine new avenues for cooperation.
A Challenging Dialogue: Serbia and Kosovo Relations
Since 2011, international efforts have aimed to reduce tensions between Kosovo and Serbia evolving from the technical dialogue to high-level political talks in 2013. Although progress has been made in areas like freedom of movement and telecommunications, deep-seated mistrust persists. The September 2023 coordinated violent attacks on the Kosovo Police near the Banjska monastery, carried out by a paramilitary force, underscored the fragility of the region's security. The workshop participants scrutinized the lack of trust between Belgrade and Pristina, discussing how both EU and U.S. diplomatic efforts have struggled to achieve political breakthroughs, while also exploring the broader regional implications of these ongoing tensions.
A Path Forward: Building Trust and Regional Stability
The second day of the workshop was held in North Mitrovica, a hotspot of interethnic tension. Discussions focused on how the Albanian majority and the Serbian community in Kosovo might build trust through confidence-building measures and NGO-led initiatives. Participants also analyzed the conflict’s impact on neighboring Western Balkan states, such as Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and proposed cooperative steps forward. The workshop culminated in the formulation of policy recommendations, which will be shared with key stakeholders in the coming months, aiming to foster sustainable peace and stability across the region.
