A Comprehensive Agenda for the North: The New European Approach

October 11, 2011

Being conscious of the latest complex and challenging situation in the northern Kosovo, the European Commission has officially requested in its Enlargement Strategy 2011-2012 that Kosovo adopt ‘a comprehensive agenda for the north’. As it stands, in its part, the European Commission gave no further explanation on this ‘advice’, leaving it as a straightforward contention. Although many perceive this as a simple statement having hardly any effect, one should dare to analyse more profoundly the substance of this request of the European Commission. Therefore, this Policy Note will analyse the substantive meaning and the significance of the European Commission asking Kosovo to adopt a comprehensive agenda for the north, and hints on the possible policy options that could derive thereof. We argue that the comprehensive agenda,nevertheless, should be complemented with an increased pressure of the EU upon Serbia to halt financing and supporting parallel structures in Kosovo. Certainly, Kosovo’s Government must effectively lobby at the EU institutional and member states’ level to transform this in an explicit condition on Serbia’s European integration track.

Policy Notes

A Comprehensive Agenda for the North: The New European Approach

Download PDF 11/10/2011

Share article


Latest Publications

January 31, 2024

Policy Analysis

EU Reform Barometer in Kosovo - First Edition

Related Espresso Insights

March 4, 2024

Espresso.Insights

Passport Hangover: What’s next after Spain’s Kosovo breakthrough?

by GLPS

January 16, 2023

Espresso.Insights

Recognized but not supported: Hungary's stance on Kosovo's EU bid

by GLPS