Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 22, 2025

Kosovo and Serbia reach deal on license plate dispute — Borrell

Kosovo and Serbia reach deal on license plate dispute — Borrell

The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo reached an agreement to end their dispute over license plates, according to the European Union’s top diplomat.
“We have a deal,” said the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell in a tweet on Wednesday.

The most recent rise in tensions between the two sides is over Kosovo’s plan to begin fining thousands of motorists who currently have Serb-issued license plates.

The move angered Serbs in northern Kosovo who, like Belgrade, do not recognize Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia.

Many people have resigned from public institutions to protest the new provision, including hundreds of police officers.

The deal announced by Borrell appeared to be similar to the agreement Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti failed to reach on Monday.

Borrell said that Serbia agreed to stop issuing license plates with Kosovo cities’ denomination on them while Kosovo would “cease further actions related to re-registration of vehicles.”

“This is an important achievement,” he stressed in a video statement. “I will invite the parties in the coming days to discuss the next steps.”

Kurti had previously suspended the plan to fine motorists for 48 hours due to a request by the United States.

Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani meanwhile thanked the US in a tweet on Wednesday ”for their active engagement in reaching today’s deal in Brussels.”

Osmani had accused Borrell of bias over his statement singling out Kosovo for the breakdown of the deal on Monday.

Borrell had criticized the leaders on Monday for failing to reach a deal, stating that he would inform EU countries and their international partners about “the unconstructive behavior of parties and complete lack of respect for their international legal obligations, and this goes in particular for Kosovo.”

Washington welcomed the agreement, with State Department spokesman Ned Price, stating that “the two parties took a giant step forward today, with EU facilitation, towards assuring peace and stability throughout the region.”

“The United States applauds the constructive negotiations and encourages further progress towards normalization of relations,” he added.

The issue of Kosovo’s independence sparked a 1998-99 war in which about 13,000 people died. Serbia launched a brutal crackdown to curb a separatist rebellion by the territory’s ethnic Albanians. NATO bombed Serbia in 1999 to end the war.

The EU-backed Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, which is aimed at normalizing relations between the neighbors and former foes in the Western Balkans, has been at a virtual standstill for years and prompted fears that violence could flare up again.

France and Germany had sought to reinvigorate the dialogue over the past few months, by supporting the latest EU proposal.

Besnik Bislimi, Kosovo’s First Deputy Prime Minister and chief negotiator said that “after today’s agreement, we should continue our intensive talks on the proposal of EU, backed by Germany and France, for full normalization of relations.”

Petar Petković, Serbia’s chief negotiator, meanwhile said they had “saved KM plates”.

He conceded however that Serbia will not issue “completely new KM plates”, stressing that “in the last three years no new KM plates have been issued.”

“We managed to preserve peace and stability,” he went on. “The dialogue and talks continue and that is the most important thing because we need to move in the direction of normalizing relations, above all normalizing relations on the ground when it comes to normal life and the life of all people.”

Both Belgrade and Pristina have put in bids to become EU member states but neither is likely to join the bloc while their dispute remains unresolved.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
×