EU warns of 'escalation and violence' following failed Serbia-Kosovo talks

The European Union has warned of an escalation in the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo. The warning by the bloc comes after the talks between the two countries fell through over the long-running dispute over license plates.

In a statement Monday, the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that there would be an escalation or potential violence as the emergency talks between Serbia and Kosovo fell through to resolve the long-running dispute on license plates used by the Serb minority in northern Kosovo.

“After many hours of discussion…the two parties did not agree to a solution today,” said Borrell in a statement. “I think that there is an important responsibility on the sides of both leaders for the failure of the talks today and for any escalation and violence that may occur on the ground in the following days.”

Borrell said that an EU proposal could have avoided increased tensions, but while Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accepted the proposal, Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti rejected it. Borrell said he would inform the EU member states of the two countries’ “lack of respect for their international legal obligations.” and warned that with their commitment to join the bloc, they must act accordingly.

Borrell also discussed the failure of the talks between Serbia and Kosovo with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Stoltenberg tweeted that the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo was “vigilant.”

On the same day, KFOR Commander Angelo Michele Ristuccia appealed to both sides to keep from taking actions that would worsen the situation. A spokesperson for KFOR also said the major general met with Kosovan interior minister Xhelal Svecla and stressed the importance of refraining from any escalation. Around 3,700 NATO peacekeeper troops are stationed in Kosovo to prevent violence between ethnic Albanians and Serbs.

United States State Department spokesperson Ned Price also said Washington was disappointed when the talks fell through. Price said that both Kurti and Vucic “need to make concessions to ensure that we do not jeopardize decades of hard-won peace in an already fragile region.”

Washington also called on Kosovo to further delay its plans to impose fines on Serbs who do not change their old license plates.