Varhelyi: Pristina's decision on dinar made without prior consultation

BRUSSELS - EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said on Friday the European Commission regretted that a decision by Pristina to abolish the Serbian dinar had been made without prior consultation, and voiced concern for the daily lives of Serbs and other communities in Kosovo-Metohija.

"The Commission regrets that this decision was adopted w/out prior consultation given the impact this decision might have on the daily lives of Kosovo Serbs and other communities throughout Kosovo. The Commission is especially concerned about the impact on schools & hospitals given the apparent absence of alternatives at this moment," Varhelyi wrote in a post on the social media network X.

"The Commission supports the statement issued yesterday by the High Representative through his spokesman and furthermore takes note of the Central Bank's decision to allow a transition period.

The Commission calls on Kosovo to ensure that this transition period is sufficiently long to find a negotiated solution within the framework of the EU-facilitated dialogue," he added.