French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have welcomed the decision of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to accept the European Union's proposal for the normalization of relations, and have mentioned the great need to create conditions towards its finalization and implementation.
The three leaders made these statements in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Kurti, a day before his meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Brussels, under the mediation of the European Union.
The EU envoy for dialogue, Miroslav Lajçak, has stated that at the February 27 meeting in Brussels, he expects the parties to agree on the deadlines for the implementation of the European proposal.
Publicly known as the Franco-German plan, the EU's proposal for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is said to serve as a path towards the final agreement between the two countries.
Both Kosovo and Serbia have accepted the plan, but it has never been presented to the public.
In a draft seen by Radio Free Europe, recognition is not specifically mentioned, but equal rights for Kosovo and Serbia, respect for territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, recognition of state symbols and a special arrangement for the Serbian community in Kosovo.
"In its conclusions of 9 February, the European Council expressed its support for this important agreement and at the same time called on Serbia and Kosovo to implement, fully and unconditionally, the obligations they have undertaken within the framework of the dialogue, including the 2013 and 2015 agreements to establish the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities," the European leaders said.
They have said that they expect the February 27 meeting to discuss the EU proposal and the obligations arising from the dialogue process, mediated by the European bloc.
Mentioning the importance of implementing agreements and achieving compliance, Macron, Scholz and Meloni have said that they are convinced that such progress benefits the citizens, as well as advancing Kosovo's path towards European integration.
Kosovo and Serbia have reached agreement on the Association in 2013 and then in 2015 on the principles for its establishment.
In 2015, the Constitutional Court of Kosovo found that the agreement is not in full harmony with the Constitution.
Serbia demands that Kosovo implement the agreements reached, but the Government of Kosovo has declared against a mono-ethnic association.
Even the senior advisor to the US State Department, Derek Chollet, stated on February 25 that he told the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, that now is the time to discuss the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities.
