Sensitive topic
The cold is out of the air for the time being in the conflict over license plates between Kosovo and Serbia. Both countries are watering down to prevent further escalation, after mediation by the EU.
There is a breakthrough in the ‘license plate conflict’ between Kosovo and Serbia. That quarrel recently reached a boiling point and therefore there were great concerns that it would cause new unrest between the two countries living side by side anyway. Now, thanks to the mediation of the European Union, a solution has been reached, in which both parties compromise.
The tension is that ethnic Serbs living in Kosovo can still get a Serbian license plate on their car, because Serbia does not recognize Kosovo as an independent country. Kosovo therefore wanted to impose fines on its residents who do not have Kosovar license plates on their cars. That plan is now off the table. Serbia also stops issuing license plates to residents of Kosovo. That agreement was reached after consultations between the two countries at the table with mediators from the European Union.
Josep Borrell Fontelles, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, reported the news on his Twitter account. Borrell says he is happy that a deal has been made and hopes this can prevent further escalation. It is special that the EU has sat down with Kosovo and Serbia to mediate. Both countries are not members of the EU and there is also division within the EU about recognizing Kosovo as an independent country.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl