When we think of Europe, we think of the European Union. There is, however, more. Even though some countries and regions are not part of the EU (yet?), they are extremely important for the stability of Europe. Kosovo is probably the best example of this. And important decisions are being taken there at the moment.
On 2 February 2007 United Nations Special Envoy for Kosovo Mr. Martti Ahtisaari travelled to Belgrade and Pristina to present his Settlement proposal on the status of Kosovo. From 21 February onwards a series of meetings have been scheduled which will leave Ahtisaari with a final document. This result will be presented to the United Nations Security Council, which will have to approve the resolution; this also means that Russia, traditionally Serbia’s ally, might use its veto to block the Settlement.
While Kosovo Albanians have been pressing the issue of settling the ‘final’ status of Kosovo, Serbians have tried to postpone it. During the Kosovo negotiation talks between November 2005 and December 2006 both parties, the Serbian government and the Kosovo representatives, did not move one step closer to each other, while everyone knew a solution had to be found and a plan had to be drafted.
In the proposed Settlement Kosovo officially does not become sovereign, while it is allowed to have its own flag and anthem, and is able to start negotiations for membership of international organisations. The word ‘sovereignty’ has explicitly been left out of the proposal to keep the Serbs on board. Apart from the ‘national’ government in Pristina, far going decentralisation has to guarantee the freedom of Serb municipalities. Another important part of the Settlement is the mandate for international civilian and military presence to safeguard and supervise the implementation of the resolution.
How will this end? While most Kosovo Albanians can live with the proposal, the Serbian government opposes the draft. Initially Russia guaranteed Serbia that if the Serbian government does not agree with the resolution, Russia would veto it in the Security Council. Now it seems more likely that Russia will use its power in the Security Council for its own benefit, arguing for independence of Georgian provinces Abkhazia and North-Ossetia. Probably more important for Serbia’s wish or possibility to join the EU in the future, however, is the willingness of the Serbian government to cooperate on settling the status of Kosovo.
Time will tell us if Kosovo will become a sovereign state in the long run and if Serbia will become a future member of the European Union. For the present it is important to keep in mind that peace and stability needs to return in this region, not in the least because it is in the midst of European Union member countries.
Suzanne Jansen, IPP, Dutch Centre for Political Participation