As of: 09/30/2021 2:26 p.m.
The dispute over the mutual recognition of license plates between Kosovo and Serbia has been settled – for the time being. An EU working group is now supposed to work out a permanent solution within six months.
“We have a deal!” Wrote EU representative for the Western Balkans, Miroslav Lajcak, on Twitter. This settles the border dispute over the mutual recognition of license plates between Serbia and Kosovo for the time being.
Von der Leyen mediated
After two days of intensive negotiations, an agreement to de-escalate tensions had been reached. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also mediated between the two governments on a trip to Kosovo and Serbia.
Kosovo promised to withdraw special police units from the border and lift roadblocks. This initially seems to have averted the danger of a violent escalation.
Dispute over license plates
The dispute concerned a new regulation of the Kosovar government, according to which motorists with Serbian license plates are obliged to put up provisional license plates when entering Kosovo. It was responding to the fact that Serbia, for its part, does not recognize the license plates introduced by Kosovo after the declaration of independence in 2008.
The measure affected several thousand Kosovar Serbs in the Serbian enclave around the city of Kosovska Mitrovica in northern Kosovo, who often still use vehicles with Serbian license plates. But it also applied to travelers from Serbia.
EU working group should find a solution
Kosovo broke away from Serbia in 2008. However, the government in Belgrade still does not recognize independence and regards Kosovo as a breakaway province.
After the provisional settlement of the dispute, a working group with the participation of EU representatives is now to work out a permanent solution within six months.
Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia in the “license plate dispute”
Clemens Verenkotte, ARD Vienna, September 30, 2021 2:45 p.m.