The lack of legitimate institutions in Kosovo following the parliamentary elections on February 9, as well as ongoing protests in Serbia, have overshadowed the Brussels dialogue, experts on the process say. Despite messages from French President Emmanuel Macron about the importance of the dialogue, expectations for progress toward normalizing relations between the two countries remain low.

The European Union, in a response to KosovaPress, says it is working with the parties toward a full normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations by addressing all unresolved issues. They emphasize that the possibility of new trilateral meetings in Brussels depends on the willingness of the parties.

Regarding Macron’s statements on Sunday after talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, KosovaPress also sent questions to the outgoing government, but they did not respond.

Kosovo and Serbia agreed in 2023 on the Basic Brussels Agreement and subsequently on the Ohrid annex, but this agreement has not yet been implemented.

An EU spokesperson told KosovaPress that they expect Kosovo and Serbia to swiftly fulfill their commitments within the framework of the comprehensive normalization of their relations.

According to the spokesperson, the path of the two countries to the European Union goes through the dialogue facilitated by the EU:

“EU, as the facilitator of the Dialogue, is working with the parties toward a comprehensive normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, addressing all unresolved issues. The EU expects Serbia and Kosovo to swiftly fulfill their commitments within the framework of the Dialogue, taking into account the direct connection between comprehensive normalization of relations and concrete prospects for their aspirations for EU membership. The path to the European Union for both parties goes through the Dialogue facilitated by the EU,” the response to KosovaPress states.

Professor of European Integrations, Dritëro Arifi, says the dialogue in 2025 has stalled, among other things, due to the political crisis in Kosovo. According to him, no outgoing government can negotiate anything without having full legitimacy.

“As for the Kosovo side, there has been a major deficiency regarding who is responsible. The government takes responsibility when it suits it, and when it doesn’t, it says it is a caretaker government. Let us not forget that we have been without a parliament since the end of December and, naturally, no government can negotiate something without knowing how the whole legitimacy process will develop. This is the main reason why Kosovo has been delayed on many issues,” he emphasizes.

Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have recently increased due to the arrest in Kosovo of the Serbian official Igor Popović, on charges of inciting hatred and ethnic division. Meanwhile, Serbia arrested former police officer Arbnor Spahiu in June, with allegations related to the Serbian terrorist attack in Banjska, where three attackers were killed.

The EU has previously called for avoiding unilateral actions that increase tensions and go against the spirit of normalization.

Regarding the possibility of bilateral and trilateral meetings at the level of chief negotiators and technical levels, the European capital says it is ready to await the next round of talks, but this depends on the willingness of the parties.

“The dialogue continues with regular bilateral and trilateral meetings at the level of chief negotiators and technical level. The last trilateral meeting at the level of chief negotiators was held in June. The EU is ready to await the next round of talks as soon as the parties signal readiness, including at the highest level. Upcoming meetings will be announced in due time,” the bloc’s response adds.

However, despite the possibility of upcoming meetings, Professor Arifi says he does not expect anything concrete toward implementing agreements and normalizing Kosovo-Serbia relations.

According to him, there are many words and little action, especially from the dialogue mediators. He emphasizes the need for Serbia to be sanctioned by the EU because it violated the agreement from the start. Therefore, according to him, when President Macron speaks about unilateral actions that harm the process, he should point the finger at Serbia.

Serbia, in December 2023, sent a letter to Brussels stating that it would not implement certain points of the Basic Agreement, which according to Kosovo’s institutions, involve de facto recognition of Kosovo by Serbia.

“There are many words and little action. This applies to all parties, but especially to the European Union. If anyone should be sanctioned, it should have been Serbia from the start, since it violated the agreement the day it promised to implement it. Mr. Macron is speaking about the unfinished future instead of the present. Even on the issue of the missing persons, it is Serbia that does not want to put an end to it. There are many questions, gaps, and uncertainties,” he adds.

In February 2025, the new envoy for the dialogue, Danish diplomat Peter Sorensen, was appointed. He has held several meetings within the dialogue framework this year, but these have not produced concrete results.