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Unannounced visit to Kosovo, Sorensen meets Kurti on the issue of Serbian judges and prosecutors
2026-07-25 16:50:00 / KOSOVA
The European Union's envoy for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Peter Sorensen, met with acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Pristina on Friday in an unannounced visit. Among the topics discussed was the issue of resigned Serbian judges and prosecutors who are seeking reinstatement.
In a press release, Kurti's office said he was asked by Sorensen about the reinstatement of dozens of Serbian judges and prosecutors who had resigned in 2022. The EU has demanded that the issue of the reintegration of resigned Serbian judges and prosecutors be resolved within the framework of the dialogue between the two neighboring countries, but Kosovo wants to release them from office and fill their places through new competitions for Serbian judges and prosecutors.
Kurti reiterated that he is open to the inclusion of Serbs in the judiciary and prosecution, but not for their automatic return to work, insisting that every decision be made according to the Constitution and laws of Kosovo, REL informs. "The collective resignations of four years ago in the north of the Ibar River were precisely aimed at destroying the multiethnic composition of our democratic system. Now, the way forward is what the Constitution and laws of Kosovo determine, which in the case of the judicial system means preserving multiethnicity, but at the same time guaranteeing independence and the quality of justice," Kurti told Sorensen, according to his office.
Sorensen has not yet commented on the surprise visit. The EU envoy arrived in Pristina on the day that both Kurti and acting president Albulena Haxhiu pushed the country's Judicial Council (JC) to request the dismissal of the resigned Serbian judges, despite calls from the EU not to pressure the independent judiciary.
Kurti said earlier Friday during a cabinet meeting that the removal of Serbs from Kosovo institutions in 2022 was an “organized political act” and that their return to work now would violate the country’s Constitution and laws. On the same day, Haxhiu called on the KJC “not to fall prey to anyone’s influence, whether domestic or international,” and to send it a request for the dismissal of the resigned Serb judges.
A KJC meeting on Friday, which was expected to discuss the issue of resigned Serb judges, failed due to a lack of quorum. Around 130 Serb prosecutors and judges had resigned in late November 2022, as part of the collective departure of Serbs from Kosovo institutions in the four Serb-majority municipalities in the north – North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok.
The move – prompted by the Serbian List, the largest Serb party in Kosovo, which is backed by Belgrade – came in protest of the Kosovo government’s decision to remove Serbian-issued vehicle license plates and replace them with Kosovo ones. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Haxhiu dismissed seven Serbian prosecutors who had resigned at the end of 2022.
Her decision came after the Prosecutorial Council rejected requests by five prosecutors and 15 administrative staff of the Basic Prosecution Office in Mitrovica to withdraw their resignations. Her decision was criticized by the EU. On Friday, Haxhiu also said there was information that some Serbian judges and prosecutors who have resigned were paid by Serbia, claiming that some are still being paid.
She alleged that there are suspicions that they were involved in illegal activities and were influenced by Serbia during the administration of justice. “There are many cases, some of which are public, where former judges and prosecutors have participated in various meetings in Serbia and Kosovo where plans were discussed and actions were taken, including blocking roads” in Kosovo, Haxhiu said.
The acting president said she hopes that the KJC will not make a decision, which she said is not in accordance with the law, adding that it would set a “dangerous precedent.” However, she said that once she has the names of the resigned judges, she will decree their release. Haxhiu said that the doors of Kosovo institutions are open to Serbs who are not influenced by Serbia, adding that the KJC has already announced the opening of a new competition and the KJC should act accordingly.
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