Kosovo issues 2-day delay of imposing fines on Serb drivers

Kosovo announced that it has decided to issue a two-day delay in imposing fines on Serbs who have not changed their license plates. The delay follows failed talks organized by the European Union between Kosovo and Serbia.

Pristina said that it was delaying its implementation of fines on Serbs in northern Kosovo who have not changed their license plates to Kosovo-issued ones. The delay is set for another two days following the request by the United States out of fears by the West that it may trigger a new wave of ethnic violence.

The conflict over the license plates stoked tensions since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Belgrade has said it will never recognize Kosovo’s independence. Kosovo is also home to around 50,000 ethnic Serbs, who also refuse to recognize Kosovo’s independence and Pristina’s authority.

“I have talked until very late last night with the US ambassador to find a possibility (for a deal) without undermining the constitutionality but at the same time not to allow the threat to peace and stability,” said Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti Tuesday.

Hundreds of Serb police officers, judges, prosecutors, and other state workers have resigned from their jobs this month after Pristina imposed that local Serbs must replace car plates issued by Belgrade-backed Kosovo Serb municipalities with Kosovan ones. Around 10,000 Serb drivers would be targeted by the fines ruled by Pristina, according to Kosovo police.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Kosovo rejected the bloc’s proposal to resolve the issue. Borrell’s spokesperson Peter Stano said that talks would continue between both sides in the next two days.

“If the EU accession is the ultimate objective of Kosovo and Serbia, to which they have both committed, we expect them to act accordingly,” said Stano. The bloc previously warned that the situation may escalate tensions should the conflict continue.

On Wednesday, Borrell said that both countries have reached an agreement to end the long-running dispute. Borrell said that as part of the agreement, Belgrade will stop issuing license plates with Kosovo cities’ denominations, and Kosovo will “cease further actions related to the re-registration of vehicles.”