The European Union will not lift political and economic sanctions against Kosovo if the government does not take concrete measures to reduce tensions with ethnic Serbs, the EU’s special representative for the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, said during a visit to Pristina. , reports Reuters.

EU countries imposed punitive measures on Kosovo after Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s government failed to meet EU and US demands to resolve the country’s worst conflict in the north in a decade.

The measures include banning visits by Kosovo officials to the EU and suspending much of the EU’s economic aid to the small Balkan republic, with Brussels warning of further action if Prime Minister Kurti does not take steps to ease tensions.

In early June, violence erupted in northern Kosovo when the Kosovo government appointed Albanian mayors to four towns in northern Kosovo following local elections that were largely boycotted by Serbs.

Kosovo was part of Serbia, but declared its independence unilaterally in 2008. Belgrade, which has not recognized Kosovo as an independent state, regularly raises tensions in the northern part of the country, dpa notes.

About 30 NATO soldiers defending three town halls in northern Kosovo were injured in clashes with Serbian protesters, and 52 Serbs were injured. (Agerpress)