THE KOSOVO–SERBIA DIALOGUE AMID EUROPE’S POLYCRISIS: BUILDING TRUST IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

Year 2026, Volume: 1 Issue: 1 , 75 - 86 , 15.04.2026

Dilek Kütük

https://izlik.org/JA68EA63BA

Abstract

Europe’s overlapping crises, the pandemic, energy insecurity, and Russia’s war against Ukraine, have placed a disproportionate burden on the Western Balkans. Focusing on Kosovo–Serbia relations, this article argues that the European Union’s facilitation of a status-neutral normalisation process, one that brackets the question of final status, can produce lasting results only if commitments move in parallel, are independently verified, and generate visible benefits in citizens’ everyday lives. The study examines the Franco–German initiative and the Ohrid framework together with the security-related stress test created by the Banjska incident and the conditionality mechanisms of the EU’s new Growth Plan. It contends that moving the dialogue beyond crisis management toward trust-building depends on the balance between enforcement capacity, locally legitimate security arrangements, and the provision of everyday services that improve daily life.
 

Keywords

kosovo-serbia dialogue , status-neutral normalisation , eu growth plan , polycrisis , kfor

AVRUPA’NIN ÇOKLU KRIZLERI ORTASINDA KOSOVA–SIRBISTAN DIYALOĞU: BELIRSIZ ZAMANLARDA GÜVEN İNŞASI

https://izlik.org/JA68EA63BA

Abstract

Avrupa’da iç içe geçen çoklu krizler (pandemi, enerji güvensizliği ve Ukrayna savaşı), Batı Balkanlar üzerinde orantısız bir baskı yaratmaktadır. Bu makale, Kosova–Sırbistan ilişkilerine odaklanarak, Avrupa Birliği’nin kolaylaştırdığı nihai statüyü paranteze alan normalleşme sürecinin (status-neutral) ancak taahhütlerin eşzamanlı ilerlemesi, bağımsız biçimde doğrulanması ve yurttaşların gündelik yaşamında somut faydalar üretmesi halinde kalıcı sonuçlar doğurabileceğini savunmaktadır. Çalışmada Franco–Alman girişimi ve Ohrid çerçevesi, Banjska olayının yarattığı güvenlik temelli stres testi ve AB’nin yeni Büyüme Planı’nın koşulluluk mekanizması birlikte ele alınmaktadır. Makale, diyaloğun kriz yönetimi sınırlarının ötesine geçerek güven inşasına evrilmesinin; yaptırım gücü, meşru güvenlik düzenlemeleri ve günlük yaşamı iyileştiren hizmet sunumu arasındaki dengeye bağlı olduğunu ileri sürmektedir.

Keywords

Kosova-sırbitan diyaloğu , statü-nötr normalleşme , ab büyüme planı , çoklu kriz , kfor

References

• Arežina, S. (2020). Post-pandemic world and Western Balkans: Transformative resilience as the response to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic (Working paper). China-CEE Institute. https://china-cee.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Working_paper-202041-SanjaArez%CC%8Cina.pdf.
• Brzozowski, A. (2023, February 23). Serbia, Kosovo move closer to EU-brokered deal on normalising ties. Euractiv. https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement-neighbourhood/news/serbia-kosovo-move-closer-to-eu-brokered-deal-on-normalising-ties/.
• Dialogue Info. (2011). Introduction to the dialogue. https://dialogue-info.com/the-dialogue/.
• Dialogue Info. (2011). Recognition of diplomas. https://dialogue-info.com/recognition-of-diplomas/.
• Dönmez, B. (2023, February 24). Disagreements between EU member, candidate nations that marked 1st year of Russia-Ukraine war. Anadolu Agency. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/russia-ukraine-war/disagreements-between-eu-member-candidate-nations-that-marked-1st-year-of-russia-ukraine-war/2829850.
• Euronews. (2021, May 28). After months of delay, EU nations finally ratify €750bn recovery fund. https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2021/05/28/after-months-of-delay-eu-nations-finally-ratify-750bn-recovery-fund.
• European Commission. (2023). Growth plan for the Western Balkans. https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/enlargement-policy/growth-plan-western-balkans_en.
• European External Action Service. (2021). Belgrade–Pristina dialogue: Press statement by EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčák. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/belgrade-pristina-dialogue-press-statement-eu-special-representative-miroslav-laj%C4%8D%C3%A1k-following_en.
• European Institute of Peace. (2025, January). Normalization of Kosovo–Serbia relations: State of play. https://www.eip.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/7.-Normalization-of-Kosovo_Serbia-Relations-State-of-Play.pdf.
• European Western Balkans. (2021, October 27). Amid growing scepticism in the Balkans, officials stress that the region’s future is in the EU. https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2021/10/27/bsf-amid-growing-scepticism-in-the-balkans-officials-stress-that-the-regions-future-is-in-the-eu/.
• Gashi, S., & Novaković, I. (2020). Brussels agreements between Kosovo and Serbia (Peace and Security Analysis). Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/belgrad/17009.pdf.
• Gijs, C. (2022, July 19). EU launches accession talks with North Macedonia, Albania. Politico. https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-launch-accession-talks-north-macedonia-albania/.
• International Court of Justice. (n.d.). Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo (Advisory opinion). https://www.icj-cij.org/case/141.
• International Crisis Group. (2024, April). Northern Kosovo: Asserting sovereignty amid divided loyalties (Report No. 269). https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/balkans/kosovo/269-northern-kosovo-asserting-sovereignty-amid-divided-loyalties.
• International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES). (2023, October 26). Serbia–Kosovo 2023: The disinformation war. https://www.ifimes.org/en/researches/serbia-kosovo-2023-the-disinformation-war/5226.
• Kacarska, S. (2025, March 28). One year after the adoption of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans: Where do we stand? European Policy Institute (EPI). (URL not provided in manuscript)
• Kovacevic, T. (2022, December 12). Kosovo: Why is trouble flaring up between Serbs and the Albanian-led government? BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/62382069.
• Mjekiqi, S. (2022, December 9). Closing the gap: Why Kosovo and Serbia should view political cooperation as an opportunity. European Council on Foreign Relations. https://ecfr.eu/article/closing-the-gap-why-kosovo-and-serbia-should-view-political-cooperation-as-an-opportunity/.
• Morris, L., & Birnbaum, M. (2020, April 3). European leaders warn coronavirus could lead to the breakup of their union. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/coronavirus-europe-unity/2020/04/02/4c9ed8c0-743e-11ea-ad9b-254ec99993bc_story.html.
• Picciano, N. (2023, January 23). The inadequate Franco-German proposal for Kosovo and Serbia. Visegrad Insight. https://visegradinsight.eu/the-inadequate-franco-german-proposal-for-kosovo-and-serbia/.
• Prishtina Insight. (2020). 100 percent tariff replaced with reciprocity. https://prishtinainsight.com/100-percent-tariff-replaced-with-reciprocity/.
• Rankin, J., & Oltermann, P. (2020, May 26). Franco-German plan for European recovery will face compromises. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/26/franco-german-plan-for-european-recovery-will-face-compromises.
• Regional Cooperation Council. (2019). Balkan Barometer 2019: Public opinion survey. https://www.rcc.int/pubs/89/balkan-barometer-2019-public-opinion-survey.
• Semini, L. (2020, April 1). Kosovo lifts 100% tariff on Serb, Bosnian goods. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/bc2a6ce8674ab51d18fe7c5496b898cd
• Stojanovic, M. (2022, August 18). Serbia, Kosovo leaders ‘make no progress’ at Brussels meeting. Balkan Insight. https://balkaninsight.com/2022/08/18/serbia-kosovo-leaders-make-no-progress-at-brussels-meeting/.
• Tuhina, G. (2021, July 19). Serbia-Kosovo talks make no progress, each side blames the other. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-kosovo-normalization-talks/31366485.html.
• Western Balkans Investment Framework. (2020). European Union and the Western Balkans. https://wbif.eu/. Zorić, B., & Deda, I. (2024, May 31). Quo Vadis Kosovo? High time to realign with the West (EUISS Brief 2024/8).
• European Union Institute for Security Studies. https://www.iss.europa.eu/publications/briefs/quo-vadis-kosovo-high-time-realign-west.