EU to Pristina: Immediately revoke taxes, form ZSO

EU to Pristina: Immediately revoke taxes, form ZSO

A news conference slated to be held after the session by EU officials Federica Mogherini and Johannes Hahn and Kosovo Premier Ramush Haradinaj was canceled after Haradinaj brusquely rejected the EU's demand, the agency said.

The EU also noted that all agreements already reached in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue had to be implemented immediately, especially the deal of 2015 on "the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities," i.e, the ZSO.

The EU stressed that the introduction of the taxes damaged the economic interests of Kosovo and its population, reduced trade and Kosovo's attraction for business and investment, as well as the importance of continued and efficient implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, and contractual obligations in trade and customs.

Any impediment to trade must be resolved by the responsible agencies and mechanisms, with the participation of all sides and in the spirit of regional cooperation and neighborly relations, the EU said.

The EU further stressed the importance of continued involvement of Kosovo in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, with EU mediation, "in order to speed up and empower work in good faith to reach a legally binding agreement on the comprehensive normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia."