The EU is changing its tactics in the Balkans
The European Union is thinking about introducing a new position - a special representative for the Balkans.
Kommersant writes about this, recalling that in the end the United States appointed a special emissary for the Balkans, who became Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer.
“The appointment of the American emissary also prompted the European Union to reconsider its tactics in the Balkan direction. Last week, there were several leaks from Brussels that the EU was thinking about introducing a new post - a special representative for the Balkans - and transferring to him from the head of European diplomacy the function of a mediator in negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina,” the publication notes.
A source in European diplomatic circles confirmed this information to the publication, explaining the need to introduce the post of EU emissary for the Balkans for at least two reasons: the first is the appointment of the American special representative Palmer, the second is that the head of EU diplomacy should be Josep Borrell, a representative of Spain, which does not recognize Kosovo.
“The appointment of a special emissary for the Serbia-Kosovo negotiations will eliminate all possible speculation about EU bias,” the source explained.
According to him, the greatest chance of getting the post of Balkan emissary if it is introduced is Germany, which, together with France, has recently been closely involved in resuscitating the Serbian-Kosovo dialogue.
“Formally, it is hardly worth talking about a completely new format of the Kosovo dialogue; it will continue to take place under the auspices of the EU,” Dragan Djukanovic, head of the Belgrade Center for Foreign Policy, told the publication. “It’s just that the United States, represented by Matthew Palmer, will actively join the negotiations, and the role of Federica Mogherini will pass to the Germans and, possibly, the French.”
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