The Cabinet of the High Representative of the European Union for Common Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrelj, has drawn up a proposal for a package of measures aimed at the Government of Kosovo and Prime Minister Aljbin Kurti, who are considered to lack the political will to take the necessary measures to de-escalate the situation in the north of Kosovo.
As Radio Free Europe (RSE) learns from diplomatic sources, among the proposed measures drawn up by Borrelj's cabinet is the suspension of sending invitations to high-level events and bilateral visits (to Kosovo) except for those aimed at solving the crisis in the north of the country.
It is also proposed to reduce attendance at public events related to EU financial cooperation, which include members of the Government of Kosovo.
It is also proposed to suspend significant funding from the EU, starting with the suspension of the approval and implementation of proposals submitted by Kosovo in the last round of the Investment Fund for the Western Balkans, and the suspension of some subcommittees between the EU and Kosovo within the Stabilization and Association Agreement.
EU spokesman Peter Stano confirmed on Tuesday that the cabinet of the head of European diplomacy shared with EU member states "a draft of measures to be taken if Prime Minister Kurti does not take adequate and urgent steps to de-escalate the situation and reduce tensions".
Diplomatic sources from several member states confirmed for RSE that the EU member states are not obliged to implement the proposed measures, but they are certainly expected to comply with them.
Some diplomatic sources hinted that certain EU states "have already taken some of their own measures" that are similar to some elements in the package of proposals drawn up by the Borelj cabinet.
On June 3, the EU asked the Kosovo authorities to act in a non-escalating manner and to immediately suspend police operations near the municipal buildings in the north of Kosovo, as well as for the newly elected mayors in four municipalities in the north to temporarily perform their duties in other premises outside the municipal buildings and to call early elections as soon as possible.
The EU has also warned that it is ready to take measures against those politicians who refuse to take measures to calm the situation.
European and American envoys, Miroslav Lajčak and Gabriel Eskobar, conveyed these requests to the head of the Kosovo Government during last week's visit to Pristina.
However, as Radio Free Europe reported, they did not receive guarantees from Kurti that all demands would be met.
On June 13, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, confirmed that he had conveyed the proposal to the representatives of QUINTA (USA, Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy) to reduce tensions in the north of Kosovo, and that he had already forwarded it to Borelj.
Kurti's five-point plan includes identifying, prosecuting and trying all members of criminal groups that have attacked police, NATO forces and journalists; the withdrawal of violent troops from the territory of Kosovo and the prohibition of criminal acts against the institutions of Kosovo.
Commenting on the contents of the letter, EU spokesman Peter Stano said that "so far we have not seen any decisive and urgent steps by Prime Minister Kurti necessary to de-escalate the situation".
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