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The Council of the European Union officially extended the mandate of the EU's special envoy for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, until January 2025.
This decision was taken after earlier member states had agreed to such a move following a request from the EU's high representative for foreign policy and security, Josep Borrell. Lajcak should normally start work on September 1 as the bloc's ambassador to Switzerland, immediately after his mandate in the role of dialogue facilitator between Kosovo and Serbia expires.
By delaying his role as mediator for another five months, Brussels wants to ensure there is no vacuum in the negotiations until his successor is appointed. Borrell's position will be taken by the Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, but in order to start her mandate, she must first wait for the European Parliament to confirm Ursula von der Leyen as the head of the European Commission for another five years.
Given that for some time, it will be Lajcak who will mediate the Prishtina-Belgrade talks process, the EU does not expect major changes.
But in the meantime, it is not known what approach Kallas will take to this difficult process.
"Attitudes can change. But what will not change are the obligations of Kosovo and Serbia that have emerged so far in the wake of this process" , said an EU diplomat.
Diplomats in the EU say that whoever facilitates the dialogue on behalf of the European Union, must follow the mandate and duties assigned by the member countries. The member countries are unanimous that Kosovo and Serbia must implement all the obligations arising from the agreements reached so far.
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