The European Union has expressed its "deeply" regret for the decision adopted this Thursday by the Judicial Council of Kosovo (KJC), which has chosen to accept the resignations of Serb-Kosovar judges that had already been withdrawn previously, an action that the bloc considers "incompatible" with Kosovar regulations, with procedural guarantees, and with the requirements of a rule of law.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) has emphasized in a statement that "Under its Constitution, Kosovo is a multi-ethnic society governed by the rule of law, and its judicial system must reflect the ethnic diversity of Kosovo," insisting that the EU has repeatedly demanded from Pristina to facilitate the reintegration of Serb-Kosovar judicial staff in accordance with Kosovo legislation and the agreements reached within the framework of the Brussels-mediated Dialogue.
Brussels has recalled that on July 15 it welcomed the withdrawal of the resignations presented by Serb-Kosovar judges, prosecutors, and support staff, a progress that it now considers undone by the KJC's resolution. The EU has added that this step adds to similar decisions made in July by the Kosovo Prosecutorial Council (KPC) and by the acting president regarding the resignations of Serb-Kosovar prosecutors.
In the same vein, it has warned that these actions "go against the principles of a multi-ethnic judiciary," undermine the trust of the Serb-Kosovar community, and jeopardize efforts aimed at ensuring a stable return of this community to the institutions of Kosovo.
In light of this scenario, the EU has urged "all relevant actors" to promote the necessary conditions to ensure a multi-ethnic judiciary that fully respects Kosovar legislation, procedural guarantees, and the commitments made within the Dialogue sponsored by the European Union.