EU Warns of Escalating Tensions After Kosovo’s Public Service Closures
The European Union has issued a sharp rebuke of Kosovo’s recent police operations targeting public service providers in the north of the country, warning that such measures risk deepening divisions and damaging its international reputation. In a statement released on May 16, 2025, the European External Action Service (EEAS) expressed concern over actions against key infrastructure, including the Vodovod Ibar water company in Mitrovica North and the public utility company in Zubin Potok, which serve predominantly Serb communities .
The EU criticized the unilateral closures as “escalatory” and urged outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti to halt further actions, emphasizing that such moves undermine trust between Kosovo’s communities and destabilize efforts to normalize relations with Serbia. “Unilateral and uncoordinated actions undermine efforts toward building trust between communities,” the statement read .
This is not the first time the EU has condemned Kosovo’s approach. Earlier in 2025, similar operations during an election campaign sparked warnings about their potential to inflame tensions, particularly when targeting Serbia-backed institutions . The current measures echo past disputes, reigniting fears of institutional fragility ahead of Kosovo’s political transition.
The EEAS reiterated calls for both Kosovo and Serbia to resume constructive dialogue under the EU-facilitated normalization process, stressing the urgent need to implement existing agreements, including the long-delayed establishment of a Serb-majority municipalities community. “Normalization of relations is an essential condition on the European path for both Parties,” the statement emphasized .
Recent Security Council reports have highlighted a lack of progress in Belgrade-Pristina talks, underscoring the EU’s frustration with stalled diplomacy . The bloc’s latest intervention signals growing impatience with unilateral actions that threaten to derail Kosovo’s EU accession prospects and regional stability.
As Kosovo faces domestic political uncertainty following Thaçi’s resignation earlier this year , the EU’s message underscores the delicate balance between enforcing state authority and maintaining intercommunal cohesion—a challenge that will define the country’s European integration trajectory.
Kosovo- Statement by the Spokesperson on the latest developments
