The European Union released the Agreement on the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, which was accepted by both sides.

The president of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti in the meeting they had, yesterday, Monday, with the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the Union, Josep Borel, and the special envoy for the issue of Kosovo, Miroslav Lajčak, they gave their consent for the implementation of the Agreement.

Here is the full text of the Agreement on the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, as published on the official EU website:

“The contracting parties, aware of their responsibility for maintaining peace, determined to contribute to fruitful regional cooperation and security in Europe and to overcome the legacy of the past, aware that the inviolability of borders and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty and the protection of national minorities are the basic conditions for peace, guided by historical reality and without questioning the different views of the parties on fundamental issues, including status issues, and expressing the desire to create conditions for the cooperation of the two parties for the benefit of the people, agreed to the following:

‘Article 1

The contracting parties (i.e. Serbia-Kosovo) will mutually develop normal relations of good neighborliness on the basis of equal rights.

Both parties will recognize each other’s documents and state symbols, including passports, diplomas, vehicle registration plates and customs stamps.

‘Article 2

Both sides shall be guided by the purpose and principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, in particular those on the sovereign rights of States, respect for their independence, autonomy and territorial integrity, the right to self-determination and protection of human rights and non-discrimination.

Article 3

According to the Charter of the United Nations, the parties shall settle all disputes between themselves only by peaceful means and shall refrain from the threat or use of force.

Article 4

The contracting parties agree on the condition that, neither of them can represent the other party in the international sphere or act on its behalf.

Serbia will not oppose the accession of Kosovo to any international organization.

Article 5

Neither party shall block, nor encourage others to block, the other party’s progress towards the European Union. Both parties will respect the values ​​referred to in Articles 2 and 21 of the Treaty on European Union.

Article 6

Although this agreement is an important step towards the normalization of relations, both sides will continue the dialogue process under the auspices of the EU with new momentum, which is expected to lead to a legally binding agreement on the overall normalization of their relations.

The parties agree that in the future they will deepen cooperation in the fields of economy, science and technology, traffic and connectivity, relations in the judiciary and law enforcement. In the fields of telecommunications, health, culture, religion, sports, environmental protection, missing and displaced persons. As well as in other areas, by reaching specific agreements.

Details will be agreed with additional agreements under the EU-sponsored dialogue.

Article 7

Both sides are advocating for the achievement of specific arrangements, in accordance with the relevant mechanisms of the Council of Europe and using existing European experiences, in order to ensure an appropriate level of self-government for the Serbian community in Kosovo and the possibility of providing services in certain specific areas, including the possibility of receiving financial aid from Serbia and establishing direct channels of communication between the Serbian community and the government of Kosovo.

The parties will ratify the official status of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and ensure a high level of protection of the Serbian religious and cultural heritage, in accordance with existing European standards.

Article 8

The parties will exchange permanent diplomatic missions. Their seat will be located where the seat of the local government is.

Practical issues related to mission development will be considered separately.

Article 9

Both sides take into account the commitment of the EU and other donors to create a special package of financial assistance for joint projects of the two sides on economic development, connectivity, green energy transition and other key areas.

Article 10

The parties will establish a joint committee, chaired by the EU, which will monitor the implementation of this agreement.

Both parties confirm their obligation to implement all previous agreements.

Article 11

Both parties undertake to comply with the implementation roadmap attached to this agreement.