The European Union’s envoy for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Peter Sorensen, paid an unannounced visit to Pristina on Friday, where he met acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The meeting comes at a sensitive moment for Kosovo’s justice system and the dispute over the return to office of Serb judges and prosecutors who left in 2022.
At the center of the talks, the return of resigned officials
According to a statement from Kurti’s office, one of the main issues raised by Sorensen was the return to work of dozens of Serb judges and prosecutors who resigned two years ago.
The EU has long pushed for this issue to be addressed within the framework of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, linking it to the functioning of institutions and the representation of the Serb community in the justice system.
Government accepts inclusion, but not automatic reinstatement
According to the official version from Pristina, Kurti reiterated that he is open to the inclusion of Serbs in the judiciary and prosecution service, but not to their automatic return to their previous jobs.
He insisted that any decision be made in line with Kosovo’s Constitution and laws, suggesting that the dispute is not only political, but also institutional and procedural.
Visit comes amid pressure on the Judicial Council
The timing of the visit is drawing attention for another reason as well. Sorensen arrived in Pristina on the same day that Kurti and acting President Albulena Haxhiu pushed the Kosovo Judicial Council to seek the dismissal from office of the resigned Serb judges.
This move came despite calls from the EU not to exert pressure on an institution that is supposed to function independently of the executive and day-to-day political developments.
KJC meeting failed for lack of quorum
A meeting of the Judicial Council had also been scheduled for Friday, where the issue of the resigned Serb judges was expected to be addressed. However, the meeting failed due to a lack of quorum.
This leaves unresolved a case that is being treated simultaneously as a matter of justice, political dialogue, and Kosovo’s relations with the EU.
Sorensen’s meeting with Kurti, held without public announcement, comes at a moment when tensions between EU demands, the government’s position, and the independence of justice institutions have become even more visible.
How the return, or non-return, of Serb judges and prosecutors is handled is expected to test not only the dialogue with Serbia, but also the relationship between political power and justice institutions in Kosovo.