EU leaders will condemn the attack in Banjska and demand that Serbia fully cooperate in the investigation

(Patria) - EU member state leaders will express deep concern over the security situation in northern Kosovo and call on Serbia to fully cooperate in the investigation, and ensure that those responsible for the attack in Banjska are brought to justice.

"The European Council condemns in the strongest terms the violent attack on the Kosovo Police on 24 September 2023. The EU expects the perpetrators to be arrested and swiftly brought to justice, and that Serbia fully cooperates and takes all necessary steps," reads the draft conclusions for the EU Summit on 26 and 27 October.

Radio Free Europe (RFE) has seen this draft of conclusions, which EU leaders will adopt at the end of the two-day summit.

In the village of Banjska in northern Kosovo on 24 September, a group of armed and masked individuals attacked the Kosovo Police. One Kosovo police officer was killed in the incident. In the exchange of fire, three attackers were also killed.

Kosovo has from the outset blamed official Belgrade for this attack, which Serbia denies. The Kosovo Prime Minister directly blamed Serbia's Defense Minister Miloš Vučević for the attack, which the Serbian Ministry of Defense immediately rejected.

EU leaders and heads of government will call on Pristina and Belgrade to work towards de-escalation, and warn of negative consequences if the parties do not engage in that direction.

"Kosovo and Serbia must continue with constant efforts for de-escalation, especially holding new elections in northern Kosovo as soon as possible, with the active participation of Kosovo Serbs. Failure to de-escalate tensions will have consequences," the draft conclusions state.

EU leaders will particularly emphasize their regret over the lack of implementation of the Agreement on the path to normalization of relations, which leaders agreed on 27 February in Brussels, the Implementation Annex agreed on 18 March in Ohrid, as well as other agreements reached in the dialogue.

"The European Council calls on Kosovo and Serbia to implement them, without delay and preconditions. This includes the establishment of the Community of Serb-majority municipalities," the draft conclusions convey.

Furthermore, European leaders will stress that the normalization of relations is an essential condition on the European path for both sides, and that they "risk losing an important opportunity in case of lack of progress."

The upcoming EU Summit also represents a framework deadline by which Kosovo and Serbian leaders should respond to the demands put forward by members of the "Quint" during their visit on 21 October.

Informed sources mention that the demands for Kosovo mainly relate to accepting the draft for the formation of the Community of Serb-majority municipalities, and for Serbia, the unconditional fulfillment of obligations from the agreement on the path to normalization of relations, including the Implementation Annex of this agreement from Ohrid.

According to diplomatic sources, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić have "only a few days" to declare whether they accept the demands.

This is the reason why the possibility is not excluded that a meeting between Kurti and Vučić in Brussels will be held by the end of this week, certainly before the EU Summit.