The high representative for foreign policy and security of the European Union, Josep Borrell, has confirmed that Kosovo and Serbia have accepted a new dialogue plan for the normalization of relations. As he said, both parties have already submitted their comments on this plan.

“With my special representative, Miroslav Lajçak, we worked hard on this. So, before the summer, we presented the plan to both sides, Kosovo and Serbia, so that they can overcome the permanent crises in which we worked and to achieve a comprehensive normalization of their relations. We have received answers from both sides. We are studying them and I think it is a good trigger that should be used to achieve the normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade”, said Borrell in Germany, where the meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of the G7 countries is being held.

The head of EU diplomacy also said that in the coming days they will analyze the comments they have received from Pristina and Belgrade and that he hopes that this “will be a progress and a step forward in this process”.

Borrell also thanked Germany and France for supporting the development of this plan.

The existence of the Franco-German plan was discussed in Berlin on November 3 by the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Von der Leyen confirmed that this plan is now “integrated into the dialogue process”.

However, there is not much information about the Franco-German plan. Its existence has been confirmed by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and by the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić.

In an interview for Radio Free Europe, the deputy prime minister of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, said that the Franco-German proposal foresees the settlement of disputes in two stages, “where a large part of the disputes would be solved now, while a very small part that they they say it is 1 percent, they would be left for a later period”.

On October 8, Vucic said that France and Germany have proposed that Serbia allow Kosovo to join international organizations and institutions, including the United Nations, in exchange for Serbia’s rapid membership in the EU.

He added that Serbia “is being humiliated even more and will not be forced to officially recognize Kosovo”, but not reacting to this, according to him, would be a silent acceptance. As Vucic said, this is unacceptable for Serbia and added that it was irresponsible and frivolous to reject the Franco-German plan.