EU criticises Kosovo over blocking reintegration of Kosovo Serb judicial staff

The European Union has expressed serious concern over recent decisions by Kosovo institutions that appear to block the return to work of Kosovo Serb judges, prosecutors, and support staff, calling the moves incompatible with the rule of law.

In a statement issued today, the European External Action Service (EEAS) welcomed the withdrawal of resignations by Kosovo Serb judicial personnel on 15 July 2026 but criticized subsequent actions by the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPC) and the Acting President. The KPC accepted the already-withdrawn resignations, and the Acting President decreed them valid.

“The EU is concerned by yesterday’s decision of the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPC) to accept the resignations that had already been withdrawn and by today’s decision of the Acting President decreeing the resignations. This appears incompatible with the law, with due process and overall rule of law requirements in Kosovo,” the EEAS statement said.

The EU called on all relevant Kosovo institutions to refrain from actions preventing the reintegration of Kosovo Serb judicial personnel. It reiterated that, under Kosovo’s Constitution, the country is a multi-ethnic society governed by the rule of law, and its justice system must reflect ethnic diversity. The EU has long urged Kosovo to enable the reintegration in line with Kosovo law and agreements reached in the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.

Kosovo’s status and ethnic tennsions

Kosovo, a former autonomous province of Serbia within the former Yugoslavia, has been the source of longstanding regional instability. Following the 1998–1999 conflict and NATO intervention, it came under United Nations administration. In February 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. While more than 100 countries, including the United States and most EU member states, have recognized Kosovo as an independent state, Serbia, along with Russia, China, and several others, does not. The EU countries that do not recognising Kosovo are Spain, Slovakia, Romania, Greece, Cyprus.

Ethnic tensions persist between the ethnic Albanian majority and the Kosovo Serb minority, particularly in northern Kosovo. Kosovo Serbs, who largely do not recognize Kosovo’s institutions, have often operated parallel structures supported by Belgrade. The 2022 mass resignation of Kosovo Serb judges, prosecutors, and police officers was part of a broader boycott amid heightened disputes over license plates, municipal elections, and judicial integration.

These unresolved issues remain major obstacles on the path toward European Union membership for both Kosovo and Serbia. The EU has made progress in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue a key condition for advancing the accession processes of both sides. Normalization of relations, including full implementation of agreements on justice, energy, and minority rights, is essential for both countries to move closer to the EU.

Details from Kosovo institutions

According to Beta news agency, the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council rejected requests to withdraw the resignations of five prosecutors and 15 support staff from the Serb community in the Mitrovica Basic Prosecution Office. Kosovo’s Acting President Vjosa Osmani (reported in some sources as Aljbuljena Hadžiu in technical mandate) signed decrees dismissing seven Serb prosecutors, stating that the process aligns with the Constitution and laws of Kosovo and concludes a years-long procedure.

The EEAS statement explicitly welcomes the initial withdrawal of resignations and stresses the importance of reintegration for a functioning, multi-ethnic justice system in Kosovo.

Caption: Acting Kosovo President Albulena Haxhiu (R) welcomes European Council President Antonio Costa (L) in Pristina, Kosovo, 3 June 2026. European Council President Costa is on an official visit to Kosovo as a part of his tour of the Western Balkan countries. EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI