The “Brussels Agreement”, formally known as the agreement on “Guiding Principles for the Normalization of Relations between Kosovo and Serbia”, was signed. This agreement was the result of the political dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, with the mediation of the European Union. It was signed on April 19, 2013 after ten rounds of negotiations between the delegation of Kosovo headed by Prime Minister HashimThaçi and that of Serbia, headed by Prime Minister Ivica Dačić. The agreement was also signed by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy and Security, Catherine Ashton. Many Western countries assessed the agreement as historic and an important step towards the normalization of relations between the two countries. The agreement consists of 15 points aimed at dismantling parallel structures in northern Kosovo, fostering goodwill between the parties, and paving the way for further agreements. According to the agreement, key provisions include the establishment of an association of municipalities with a Serbian majority in Kosovo, created through a statute and only dissolved by a decision of the participating municipalities. The agreement also foresees the integration of all police structures in the north of Kosovo within the Kosovo Police and the cessation of double payments from Serbia and Kosovo, establishing a unique salary system by the Kosovo Police. According to the agreement, the members of the security structures in the north are integrated into the relevant structures of Kosovo, while it is foreseen that the regional police commander for the four municipalities with a Serbian majority in the north (North Mitrovica, Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq) will be a Serb nominated by Ministry of Internal Affairs. Even the judicial structures in the north of Kosovo should be included within the legal framework of Kosovo and a panel composed of a majority of Kosovo Serbs should be established to judge all cases of municipalities with a Serbian majority. The agreement obliges the holding of local elections in the north of Kosovo, in accordance with the laws of Kosovo. It is also foreseen that neither party (that is, neither Serbia nor Kosovo) will block or encourage others to block the other party’s progress on the respective path towards the EU. The implementation plan of the agreement was agreed between the parties on May 23, 2013. The implementation of the agreement is supervised by a special commission, with representatives of both parties and with the facilitation of EU representatives, whose meetings are held in Brussels. The implementation of the agreement has been difficult, slow and has been accompanied by numerous contradictions and criticisms. Aspects of the plan for the implementation of the agreement, such as the adoption of the amnesty law, have provoked vocal criticism in Kosovo, while the association of Serbian municipalities continues to have different perceptions about its role and powers. (In the photo: Hashim Thaçi, Ivica Dacic and Ketrin Ashton.)
Text: The encyclopedic dictionary of Kosovo – Vol. II , Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, Prishtina, 2018, page 1050.
Photo: © https://pashtriku.org/dzhente-vjet-nga-marrevesja-e-pare-e-bruxelit/
Graphic processing: AHCF
