“Serbia likely to get conditional EU talks date”

More conditions? What a surprise.

Serbia needs to normalize relations with Kosovo. What exactly does that mean?
What does Serbia need to do to normalize relations?
Do they give us examples of that or does normalize relations mean recognize Kosovo?
We only ever hear that Serbia need to normalize relations but how is what we don't hear.

Peggy,

Normalization at the very least means effective recognition. I suppose the need for formal recognition would depend on any impact to the EU political structure down the line. Since we're still probably 5-10 years away, there isn't a need to get into all that. Right now, they're focused only on the incremental steps required st present. Furthermore, it would be too insensitive on the part of the EU to explicitly demand formal recognition at this juncture, given that the issue is still something about which Serbs are extremely passionate. And can you imagine EU diplomats dropping a bomb like that at a time when you have the acquittals of Gotovina, Markac and Haradinaj? No, the EU will gladly advance the ball very slowly in this game, patiently awaiting the time when the balance starts to tilt in their favor...which may very well never happen (but why spoil your chances?).

The longer the EU waits, the less it will have to offer. Serbia conceedes and they thank it and issue a new concesion. The EU is not serious about Serbia, and Serbia should change its tact. When Serbia concedes something to Pristina, Pristina does not concede something to Serbia. This is very weak diplomacy on the part of Serbia, however it can be turned around very easily.

If Pristina wont concede anything, and neither will the Europeans, Serbia can start suspending agreements and taking them off the table.

When you are in a negotiation, and the other person will not offer anything new, you take away your offers. The other person then considers if they should offer something new and keep you previous offer or not offer anything new and lose you offer.

More conditions? What a surprise.

Peggy,

Normalization at the very least means effective recognition. I suppose the need for formal recognition would depend on any impact to the EU political structure down the line. Since we're still probably 5-10 years away, there isn't a need to get into all that. Right now, they're focused only on the incremental steps required st present. Furthermore, it would be too insensitive on the part of the EU to explicitly demand formal recognition at this juncture, given that the issue is still something about which Serbs are extremely passionate. And can you imagine EU diplomats dropping a bomb like that at a time when you have the acquittals of Gotovina, Markac and Haradinaj? No, the EU will gladly advance the ball very slowly in this game, patiently awaiting the time when the balance starts to tilt in their favor...which may very well never happen (but why spoil your chances?).

The longer the EU waits, the less it will have to offer. Serbia conceedes and they thank it and issue a new concesion. The EU is not serious about Serbia, and Serbia should change its tact. When Serbia concedes something to Pristina, Pristina does not concede something to Serbia. This is very weak diplomacy on the part of Serbia, however it can be turned around very easily.

If Pristina wont concede anything, and neither will the Europeans, Serbia can start suspending agreements and taking them off the table.

When you are in a negotiation, and the other person will not offer anything new, you take away your offers. The other person then considers if they should offer something new and keep you previous offer or not offer anything new and lose you offer.

Serbia needs to normalize relations with Kosovo. What exactly does that mean?
What does Serbia need to do to normalize relations?
Do they give us examples of that or does normalize relations mean recognize Kosovo?
We only ever hear that Serbia need to normalize relations but how is what we don't hear.