Despite expectations and warnings that the measures of the European Union against Kosovo will be removed, at least gradually, this has not happened yet.

Last summer, the EU took several punitive measures against Kosovo - including the cancellation of several high-level meetings - assessing that Kosovo has not taken sufficient steps to de-escalate the situation in the Serb-majority north.

Tensions in this area have increased since the Government of Kosovo has installed Albanian mayors in municipalities with a Serbian majority, at the end of May 2023.

The recommendation for the removal of the measures was given in June by the high representative of the EU for foreign policy and security, Josep Borrell, justifying it with the steps taken by Kosovo to fulfill the conditions for their removal.

The EU's External Action Service (EEAS) is now said to be continuing consultations with member states on the text of a High Representative's statement announcing the lifting of the measures.

However, some versions of the text of such a declaration have not managed to get the support of all member countries.

According to diplomatic sources in the EU, most countries have agreed to lift the measures, some wanted to lift only a part of them, but some have also requested the establishment of a clause, according to which the measures could be returned automatically, if Kosovo authorities would take any unilateral and uncoordinated steps in the north, which would increase tensions.

The EU's foreign policy and security spokesman, Peter Stano, told Radio Free Europe that Borrell, as requested by him, sent the report to member states and the discussion on it took place in June.

However, Stano said that "the content of that report will not be made public".

Radio Free Europe has had the opportunity to see that report, and it recommends the lifting of the measures.

"Taking into account the steps taken by Kosovo towards fulfilling the EU's requirements, expressed in the statement of June 3, 2023, the high representative recommends the [European] Council to take a position on the lifting of the measures for Kosovo, in the same time respecting the institutional prerogatives", Borrell's report said.

Borrell, in his recommendation, said that the decision by the Council would contribute to a balanced context, in which the dialogue for the normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade, facilitated by the EU, would be able to move forward. .

"Kosovo is expected to use this opportunity to act in an escalating way and to avoid uncoordinated actions", Borrell's report said.

But, during the discussions, some member countries have argued that the fulfillment of the conditions by Kosovo "is not complete".

Stano says that "the discussions in the Council are continuing".

In the European Union, they do not want to talk about the timelines for when the measures could be lifted, but EU officials - under conditions of anonymity - say that "the decision has become more difficult after the unconstructive behavior" in the recent meetings between Kosovo and Serbia, at a high level and at the level of chief negotiators.

At the end of June, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vuçiq, have been invited to Brussels for a new round of talks, but the joint meeting did not take place, due to some conditions that Kurti issued and that he rejected Vuçiq.

Some EU sources say that among the reasons why some countries do not want the measures to be lifted, are the low level of trust in Kosovo's authorities and the fear that Kosovo may take unilateral steps to open the bridge over the Iber River, which connects the north and south of Mitrovica.