The U.S. ambassador, Jeffrey M. Hovenier, has called on the government of Kosovo to establish an association of its Serb majority towns, in a bid to revive the stalled European Union-facilitated talks with Serbia. Hovenier emphasized that there is no reason for the government of Kosovo to delay in implementing this draft statute. Normalization talks between Kosovo and Serbia have faced significant setbacks, particularly following a September shootout between masked Serb gunmen and Kosovo police, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and escalating tensions in the region.

In light of these developments, both the EU and the United States have urged both countries to honor the agreements they reached earlier this year. During her recent visit to the region, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for Kosovo to establish an Association of the Serb-Majority Municipalities, while also calling on Serbia to recognize Kosovo's independence.

The 1998-1999 war between Serbia and Kosovo claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people, primarily Kosovo Albanians, and ended with a NATO bombing campaign that forced Serbian forces out of Kosovo. However, Serbia still refuses to acknowledge Kosovo's independence, which was declared in 2008. Kosovo has expressed concerns that establishing such an association might pave the way for the creation of a Serb mini-state with significant autonomy, similar to Republika Srpska in Bosnia. Nonetheless, both the EU and the U.S. have provided assurances that the association would focus on coordinating efforts in crucial areas such as education, healthcare, land planning, and economic development in predominantly Serbian communities in northern Kosovo.

The establishment of this association was first agreed upon in Brussels in 2013 and subsequently approved by the Kosovo parliament. However, Kosovo's Constitutional Court later deemed it unconstitutional due to its lack of inclusivity and potential executive powers. As part of the ongoing dialogue facilitated by the EU, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni recently proposed a new draft of the association, which Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti has accepted in principle, according to Ambassador Hovenier.

The U.S. ambassador emphasized the importance of aligning the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities with Kosovo's constitution and the decision of the Constitutional Court. He emphasized that it should not create an additional layer of government or confer executive authorities. Hovenier questioned how autonomy could be achieved in such circumstances.

The new draft explicitly states that the Constitutional Court of Kosovo will be responsible for determining its compliance with the country's constitution. Both Serbia and Kosovo express a desire to join the European Union, yet EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has warned that their failure to compromise is jeopardizing their chances for membership. Resolving the issue of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities is seen as a critical component of advancing the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and attaining future EU membership.