EU urges Belgrade, Pristina to de-escalate, calls for elections in north Kosovo

BRUSSELS - Belgrade and Pristina must continue constant efforts to de-escalate the situation, especially when it comes to the soonest possible holding of fresh elections in the north of Kosovo-Metohija with active Serb participation, say draft conclusions to be adopted at a Brussels EU summit to be held on Thursday and Friday.

In the document, seen by Tanjug, the European Council expressed regret the parties were not carrying out an agreement on the path to normalisation and an annex on its implementation as well as other agreements reached in the EU-facilitated dialogue.

The Council called on Belgrade and Pristina to implement them without delays or conditions.

That includes the establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities, the draft conclusions said, adding that normalisation of relations was a substantial condition on both parties' European paths and that they risked missing major opportunities amid a lack of progress.

The European Council voiced deep concerns over the security situation in the north of Kosovo-Metohija and condemned in the strongest terms the September 24 attack on the so-called Kosovo Police.

The draft said the EU expected the perpetrators to be arrested and brought to justice swiftly and Belgrade to fully cooperate and take all the necessary steps.

It also said failure to de-escalate would have consequences.