Despite the tensions with Serbia, in December 2022 Kosovo formally applied to join the EU. But unless relations between Serbia and Kosovo are normalized, accession of either of the countries is unlikely.

Protests, roadblocks, police officers being injured and imprisoned in North Kosovo have again escalated the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia.

Twenty-two years have passed since the end of the last Yugoslav war. Two decades may be enough to rebuild a country, but the memories of the war and the wounds it caused are still present and will be present for a long time to come in the still unstable Balkans.

Fears of the escalation of the conflict are mounting as Serbia and Kosovo are unable to reach a consensus on the disputed Serbia-issued car number plates.

Kosovo’s decision to mandate the use of Kosovo-issued IDs and license plates sparked border tensions with Serbia earlier this month. Despite recent EU-mediated talks in Brussels, the two countries have not yet settled their dispute.