The Belgrade–Pristina Dialogue was a negotiation process facilitated by the European Union that sought to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Serbia claims Kosovo as its southern province under United Nations administration, and rejects its independence. Kosovo considers Serbia as a neighboring state. The negotiations began in March 2011, three years after Kosovo declared independence. They are the first negotiations between the two entities since Kosovo declared independence in February 2008.

Background

The Republic of Kosovo declared independence on 17 February 2008, and has been partially recognized internationally. Serbia introduced a draft-resolution on 8 October 2008 in the UN General Assembly, which sought the opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo's declaration of independence. The ICJ delivered its Advisory Opinion on 22 July 2010 concluding that Kosovo's “declaration of independence of Kosovo adopted on 17 February 2008 did not violate international law." After the verdict Serbia and the European Union submitted a draft-resolution to the United Nations General Assembly. On 9 September 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 64/298, which recognized the Advisory Opinion of the ICJ and welcomed "the readiness of the European Union to facilitate a process of dialogue between the parties." According to Resolution 64/298, the dialogue process "would be a factor for peace, security and stability in the region, [...]promote cooperation, achieve progress on the path to the European Union and improve the lives of the people." The talks were delayed due to the collapse of the Kosovar government, forcing Kosovo into early elections."Kosovo's government brought down by no-confidence vote" bbc.co.uk 2 November 2010 Link retrieved 10 March 2011

The mandate of the EU is to facilitate the dialogue between the two parties with the end goal of normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo. As such, the process is closely related to the EU accession process of both Serbia and Kosovo, which is seen as mutual goal of the parties and is being used as an incentive by the EU. For Serbia, progress in the dialogue and in the implementation of agreements reached and in the normalization of relations and rule of law conditionality are fundamental to advance in EU accession negotiations. Similarly, Kosovo's fulfilment of its milestones along the EU path – such as the signing of its Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union or getting access to EU funds – is conditioned upon progress made in the dialogue and in its rule of law reforms.

The dialogue is held in Brussels and is facilitated by the European Union High Representative/Vice President of the European Commission, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) team. Meetings and working groups are convened at the technical – at chief negotiators' level – and political – at Prime Ministers' and/or Presidents' levels. The first meeting was held on 8-9 March 2011 between the chief negotiators from Serbia and Kosovo.

Initial talks The talks were first mediated by Robert Cooper. Oliver Ivanović said that Belgrade and Pristina were urged to continue talks in Brussels, but Serbia is not obliged to recognize Kosovo at any point in the process. Borko Stefanović led the Belgrade negotiating team and Edita Tahiri led the Pristina negotiating team."Belgrade, Prishtina launch new talks" setimes.com 9 March 2011 Link retrieved 10 March 2011

The talks began on 8 March 2011 and featured three main issues:""Three main topics" in Belgrade-Priština talks" b92.net 7 March 2011 Link retrieved 10 March 2011 Regional cooperation Freedom of movement Rule of law.

First round The first round of dialogue took place on 8–9 March 2011 and covered economic co-operation between the two parties."First round of Belgrade-Priština talks ends" b92.net 9 March 2011 Link retrieved 10 March 2011 Other issues on the agenda during the first round of dialogue were telecommunications, air traffic, customs seals, land books and civil records.

Second round The second round of negotiations was delayed until 28 March 2011. Issues discussed in the second round of talks were electricity and possibly Freedom of Movement, as well as first round topics such as Kosovo's customs seal, air traffic and Kosovo's participation in regional initiatives. On 28 March, the representative discussed land books and registries of births, deaths and marriages, as well as power supply issues. Stefanović stated that "Certain progress has been achieved on land books, birth registries and electric energy supply; we laid out our proposal and hope that there will finally be a positive wrap-up of these topics at the next meeting".

Third round

The third round of dialogue took place on 15 April 2011. The issues discussed were freedom of movement, registration plates for vehicles and the recognition of educational diplomas.

Fourth round

The fourth round of dialogue was held on 17 and 18 May 2011. Agreement was almost reached on the cadaster and freedom of movement; the European Union proposed to also tackle the issues of missing people and cultural heritage.

Fifth round

The fifth round of dialogue was set to take place on 14 and 15 June 2011, but was delayed a few days before. It was assumed that the meeting would instead be held in late June, but it was pushed back to 2 July 2011. It was expected that solutions would be reached on the cadaster, freedom of movement and vital records. Electricity and telecommunications issues may also have been resolved in that round. Agreement was reached on freedom of movement across the border (both persons and cars), exchange of information regarding Serbia's civil registries to help Kosovo establish its own civil registry, and recognising each other's educational diplomas.

Sixth round

The sixth round of dialogue was set to take place on 20 and 21 July 2011. They were postponed to September on 19 July, allegedly because Kosovo's representative wanted to have Kosovo's state symbols shown, which the Serbian representative rejected. They were later set for 2 September 2011. Agreement was reached on the customs issue (the stamp will only feature the words "Customs of Kosovo") and on the cadaster; telecommunications and university degrees were also discussed, but no agreement was reached on these issues.

Seventh round

The seventh round dialogue was scheduled for 28 September 2011 (it was initially scheduled for 27 September, but was postponed shortly before due to a flare-up in violence). The Serb delegation refused to continue with the talks whilst Kosovo police and customs officials controlled border posts, which were not previously agreed upon, resulting in violence. The talks were then set for 14 October 2011, though only technical issues were planned to be discussed.

Outcome Kosovo representatives agreed on freedom of movement across the administrative border, both for persons and cars. Belgrade has agreed to give Pristina copies of land registries and documents on births, deaths and marriages in Kosovo. Mutual recognition of each other's university diplomas. Belgrade has agreed to accept Kosovo Customs stamps stating "Customs of Kosovo". End of the trade embargo, restoring trade between the two entities. Integrated operations at North Kosovo crossing points. Representation of Pristina authorities at regional organizations. Liaison officers would be exchanged between Belgrade and Pristina – to be stationed in EU missions.Kosovo and Serbia agree on liaison officers: "would not be diplomats or … treated as ambassadors."

Further aims Additional agreements: energy cooperation issues – electricity transmission, implementation of the Energy Community treaty telecommunications issues – landline and mobile phone services in North Kosovo, roaming

2013 Brussels Agreement

The first stage of the dialogues 2011-2012 were referred to as the 'Technical Dialogue' and led to a significant number of technical agreements addressing the most pressing issues of concern, though most were never fully implemented.

The second phase, which began in 2013, is referred to as the 'High Level Dialogue', with the "First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalisation of Relations", signed on 19 April 2013, as its crowning achievement. After the signing of the agreement, the European Commission officially advised that work could start on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Kosovo and accession negotiations with Serbia.

In July 2017, the EU facilitated dialogue moved to pursuing comprehensive normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

In its 2018 strategy 'A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans', the European Commission wrote that, without effective and comprehensive normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations through the EU-facilitated dialogue, there cannot be lasting stability in the region. A comprehensive, legally binding normalization agreement is urgent and crucial so that Serbia and Kosovo can advance on their respective European paths.

The lack of stability is clear due to the lack of consensus as well as an increase in violent developments. On 16 January 2018, Kosovo Serb politician, Oliver Ivanović, was assassinated in North Mitrovica and on 26 March 2018, the former Director of Serbia’s Kosovo office Marko Đurić was arrested and deported after illegally entering Kosovo and attending a meeting in North Mitrovica.

From 2018 until July 2020, talks between Serbia and Kosovo halted. The negotiations ceased due to the increasing violence, particularly the expulsion of Marko Ðurić as well as the introduction of a 100% tariff on imported goods from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina by Kosovo government. Despite the stall in negotiations, the European Union continues to support open dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

September 2020 talks In July 2020, attempts were made to revitalize the negotiations by the EU. However, progress was made at the Kosovo and Serbia economic normalization agreements in Washington, D.C., on 4 September 2020. While not a legally binding document, the international document provided a declaration of will and political commitment by both Kosovo and Serbia.

On 7 September 2020, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti met for talks in Brussels, hosted by Josep Borrell under the auspices of the European Union. At a press conference after the talks, EU Special Representative for the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue Miroslav Lajčák stated that "full progress" had been made in the areas of economic cooperation, missing persons and displaced people. Vučić and Hoti met again in Brussels on 28 September 2020 where they discussed arrangements for minority communities, the settlement of mutual financial claims and property and attempted to make progress towards a more comprehensive agreement.

2020 Washington Agreement

On 4 September 2020, under a deal brokered by the United States, Serbia and Kosovo agreed to normalise economic relations. The deal will encompass freer transit, including by rail and road, while both parties agreed to work with the Export–Import Bank of the United States and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and to join the Mini Schengen Zone, but also to commence rail links between them such as Niš-Pristina and Pristina-Merdare and to connect the Belgrade-Pristina rail network with a deep seaport on the coast of the Adriatic Sea They will also conduct a feasibility study with the U.S. Department of Energy concerning the shared Gazivoda Lake, which straddles the border between the two states.

2023 Ohrid Agreement