Danish diplomat Peter Sorensen is expected to succeed Slovakian Miroslav Lajcak as the EU's envoy for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. But despite a new name in the mediation structure, old problems remain.
Those familiar with the dialogue process say it is important that the EU envoy comes from a country that recognizes Kosovo's independence, but represents an institution that has a neutral stance on Kosovo's status.
Melazim Koci, an expert on international relations, told A2: "As long as the European Union does not have a unified position regarding the status of Kosovo, those mediators will be handicapped by the very fact that there are five countries that do not recognize independence and that have reduced Brussels' position regarding the status of Kosovo to a neutral position, this is a handicap for them."
Sorensen, who will report to the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, could bring innovation to the approach to the parties, which Pristina has complained to Lajcak about as biased in favor of Serbia. The first difficulties for Kallas in relation to Kosovo were immediately noticed in the efforts to lift punitive measures for which not all member states have the approval. Similar challenges are expected for the dialogue process.
"I strongly believe that she [Kaja Kallas] will push the [dialogue] process forward, but she has many major limitations and to be honest, her hands are tied by the veto mechanism within the European Union itself, so I am inclined to believe in initiatives that will come from the US," Koci stressed.
The new envoy, who is expected to start work on February 1, is expected to focus solely on efforts to implement the Brussels agreement and the 2023 Ohrid annex.
Arbnor Sadiku, an expert on international relations, stated: "I think they will have it easier because there is an agreement on the table and it is required to put pressure on the parties with concrete conditions that if the parties do not move forward, there will be direct sanctions for the leaders of both Serbia and Kosovo and of course for the citizens themselves or the countries they come from."
Sorensen was once part of the United Nations mission in Kosovo, known as UNMIK, and was also the special representative of the EU High Representative in Serbia. (A2 Televizion)
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