Brussels – Following an explosion at the Iber Lepenc/Ibar Lepenac water canal in Zubin Potok on 29 November, tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have reignited, with both sides accusing each other of orchestrating the attack on critical civilian infrastructure in northern Kosovo. No injuries were reported, though water supplies were temporarily disrupted. And the EU-facilitated dialogue is once again under strain.
Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti claimed that Serbia has “both the interest and the capability to execute such attacks”. He also pointed out that Milan Radoičić–who took responsibility for Banjska attack in September 2023–is still free in Serbia. Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated,” accusing Pristina of attempting to undermine Serbia’s European integration efforts and discredit the Serb List party ahead of Kosovo’s parliamentary elections in February 2025.
The European Union and the United States condemned the explosion “in the strongest terms” and called for a thorough investigation. EU High Representative Josep Borrell described the attack as “a despicable act of sabotage on critical civilian infrastructure, which provides drinking water to a significant portion of the population and is a vital component of the energy system.”
Over the weekend, Kosovo police conducted raids in various locations. EU institutions are coordinating “next steps with relevant partners, including locally with KFOR,” Borrell added, while “EU’s civilian rule of law mission EULEX is providing assistance to Kosovo authorities in accordance with its mandate.” Stressing that “the criminal action committed in Zubin Potok must be investigated and its perpetrators brought to justice,” the EU High Representative urged “all stakeholders to cooperate fully with the Kosovo authorities.”
Over a year of escalating tensions in norther Kosovo
The crisis has been ongoing for over a year and a half, marked by clashes in May 2023 when newly elected mayors in Zubin Potok, Zvečan, Leposavić, and Kosovska Mitrovica took office amid widespread protests. These demonstrations escalated into violent confrontations involving NATO-led KFOR troops after Pristina deployed special police forces to secure municipal offices for the mayors, elected in a low-turnout poll in April 2023.
Tensions flared again on 14 June, when Serbian security forces detained three Kosovan police officers, with each side alleging border violations. Emergency talks in Brussels secured the officers’ release on 22 June, but the EU imposed “temporary and reversible” measures against Kosovo, citing Pristina’s failure to de-escalate. These measures remain in effect despite a roadmap agreed on 12 July 2023.
The situation further deteriorated on 24 September 2023 with a terrorist attack near the Serbian Orthodox Banjska Monastery. A day of clashes between Kosovan police forces and an armed group left one officer and three attackers dead. One of the attackers was Milan Radoičić, deputy leader of the Serb List party, who later confirmed his involvement. Links to Belgrade emerged, with one suspect tied to President Vučić’s son.
Tensions mounted further when the United States denounced a “large military build-up” by Serbia near the administrative border with Kosovo. Although the situation did not escalate into open conflict, the EU has since weighed extending sanctions to Serbia, similar to those imposed on Kosovo. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vetoed such measures. As Serbia approached early elections on 17 December 2023, outgoing Prime Minister Ana Brnabić announced in a letter to Brussels of not recognising the legal validity of verbal commitments made within the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue or offering “de facto” recognition of Kosovo’s sovereignty.
Adding to the strain, Kosovo’s enforcement of the euro as the sole legal tender since 1 February 2024 has disrupted public services in northern Kosovo, which resisted the currency regulations introduced in 2002. Although Serbian dinars remain exchangeable alongside other foreign currencies, the policy has caused operational challenges. On 5 February, special police operations targeted Serb-run municipal offices in northern Kosovo and the NGO Center for Peace and Tolerance in Pristina. Later, on 5 August, nine branches of Serb Post were shut down. Serbia, which does not recognise Kosovo’s sovereignty, continues to pay salaries, pensions, and benefits in dinars to many ethnic Serbs in the region.
At the core of the dispute lies the unresolved establishment of the Association/community of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo. Relations between the two Balkan countries–engaged since 2011 in the EU-mediated diplomatic process–have reached one of their lowest points, despite the 12-hour talks in Ohrid (North Macedonia) on 18 March 2023. While an implementation annex to the Brussels Agreement (reached on 27 February) was approved in principle–outlining the specific commitments for Serbia and Kosovo–no formal signatures were secured. More than a year later, both Belgrade and Pristina have made little progress in honouring their commitments.
