The paper Exploring the Fate of Kosovo Serbs in the Belgrade – Pristina Dialogue examines the long-standing exclusion of Kosovo Serbs from a process that has shaped critical political, legal, and institutional developments in Kosovo over the past 15 years. Although envisioned as a mechanism for normalization, the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina has consistently sidelined one of the communities most directly affected by its outcomes. The voices of Kosovo Serbs, those living the consequences of these decisions, have rarely been included in the agenda-setting, negotiation, or implementation phases of the dialogue.
The analysis presented here draws on recent research efforts conducted by the NGO CASA in 2024, including public opinion survey, expert consultations, and focus group discussions with members of the Kosovo Serb community. The collected data reveals a strong perception among Kosovo Serbs of declining stability and security, reduced access to institutions and services, and a growing detachment from political processes. Accordingly, more than 80% of respondents reported a deterioration in the position of the Kosovo Serbs over the past three years, while over 25% of them stated that they plan to leave Kosovo within the next three years.
The paper identifies key areas where the dialogue has either failed to deliver or has bypassed issues altogether. These include the unresolved status of Serbian-issued documentation, the breakdown in policing arrangements in northern Kosovo following the 2022 resignation of Serb officers, the lack of implementation of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities (A/CSM), and the complete absence of meaningful dialogue around the protection of Serbian Orthodox cultural and religious heritage. Meanwhile, unilateral decisions, such as the 2024 ban on the Serbian dinar, have contributed to humanitarian hardship and reinforced the perception of exclusion from decision-making processes.
The findings also underscore a growing trend of “silent migration” from the Serb community in Kosovo, driven not by a single event but by the accumulation of unresolved political, legal, and economic challenges. Over 92% of respondents report that people from their surroundings have left Kosovo in recent years, with one in four respondents planning to leave in the next three years. The highest rates of emigration intent are among young and educated people, pointing to long-term risks for the sustainability of the community.
Despite this, the dialogue process remains elite-driven and disconnected from the everyday experience of the Kosovo Serbs. The community continues to lack formal representation in the talks, and even mechanisms intended to reflect their voice, such as the Management Team for the A/CSM Statute, have operated without transparency or community engagement.
To restore the dialogue’s credibility and legitimacy, a new approach that recognizes Kosovo Serbs as stakeholders, not passive objects is needed. This paper calls for the establishment of structured and inclusive mechanisms for community engagement, the inclusion of critical issues into the dialogue agenda, and the full implementation of previously agreed commitments. Only by creating space for direct community input and accountability can the dialogue fulfil its promise of contributing to sustainable normalization.
The entire publication can be found HERE.
