Milos Pavkovic, director of strategy at the Center for European Policies in Belgrade, has said that the recent visit by EU Special Representative Peter Sorensen to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue did not result in any significant progress or changes on the ground. The visit, which took place in late February, was widely anticipated as a potential turning point in the ongoing negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo, but Pavkovic emphasized that it followed a familiar pattern of diplomatic rhetoric without tangible outcomes.

Stalemate in the Dialogue

According to Pavkovic, the messages delivered by Sorensen and his predecessors — including former EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcák — have been repeated for years, emphasizing the need to implement previously agreed-upon obligations. However, he said, these messages have not translated into real changes in the situation on the ground.

“We have often received such messages after each of Sorensen’s visits, as well as those of his predecessor Lajcák — that there must be insistence on the implementation of agreements and undertaken obligations. Unfortunately, not much has actually happened,” Pavkovic said. He added that the recent visit followed a similar tone and took place in the background, with diplomatic language dominating the discussions and no promising changes emerging.

Pavkovic noted that the lack of progress has left many waiting for a breakthrough, though it remains unclear what form such a development might take. He speculated that it could involve a high-level meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, but added that this is still uncertain.

Conflicting Priorities Between Belgrade and Pristina

Pavkovic explained that Belgrade continues to demand the establishment of a Serb-majority municipalities’ community, a proposal that has been a sticking point in the dialogue for years. Meanwhile, Pristina has not made this a priority, and Pavkovic believes this dynamic is unlikely to change anytime soon.

“This visit is unlikely to alter that dynamic,” he said. He also expressed skepticism about the new government in Pristina bringing significant changes to the dialogue, despite the change in leadership.

Sorensen’s visit included meetings with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca, who announced that the dialogue with Belgrade would henceforth be led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pavkovic said this move carries its own message, emphasizing that Pristina views Belgrade as a neighboring state rather than a potential partner in a broader European integration process.

“It is no secret that Pristina views Belgrade as a neighboring state, and this opportunity is now being used to further emphasize that message, which is, in a way, primarily a provocation for Belgrade,” Pavkovic said. He noted that while the EU remains status-neutral in the Kosovo issue, it appears to have largely ignored such signals from Pristina so far.

Hope for Change, But Uncertain

Pavkovic acknowledged that Glauk Konjufca, Kosovo’s foreign minister, is a pragmatic and flexible politician, which may open the door to some improvements in the dialogue. However, he cautioned that the potential for change is limited, given that Konjufca comes from the Self-Determination party, which has historically taken a more rigid stance on Kosovo’s independence.

“Compared to the previous chief negotiator, Bislimi, there may be room for maneuver to improve something in the dialogue, to make certain changes, and to move toward implementation,” Pavkovic said. He added that the change in Pristina’s chief negotiator could represent an opportunity for dialogue, but this would depend on a range of other factors.

These include developments within the dialogue itself, the evolving relationship between Belgrade and Pristina, and the broader global context. Pavkovic noted that by placing the dialogue under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and framing it as an issue of good-neighborly relations, the rights of the Serbian community in Kosovo have been somewhat marginalized.

“On the other hand, Konjufca as a politician is far more flexible, and space may emerge for certain shifts. However, we should not rush to such conclusions. Let us see what time will bring,” Pavkovic concluded.