The leaders of France, Germany and Italy on Friday called on Serbia to “de facto recognize” Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 but which Belgrade continues to consider a province, Reuters reported.

In a statement following talks with both sides, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney said it was time for the Balkan neighbors to honor their previous commitments.

Their move comes amid growing international concern that the former wartime foes could return to open conflict after a series of violent incidents in recent months.

Much of the tension has been concentrated in northern Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs form the majority. The rest of Kosovo is mostly made up of ethnic Albanians.

In their statement, Macron, Scholz and Maloney reiterated long-standing calls for Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti to create an association of municipalities with the Serb majority in the north, giving local Serbs some degree of self-government.

Serbia and Kosovo have spent years in negotiations brokered by the European Union to normalize their relations. As this process stalled, the leaders of the three largest EU countries became more and more actively involved in trying to bring relations back to normal.

While the EU has so far avoided addressing the politically sensitive issue of de facto recognition of Kosovo, the three leaders have made it clear that this is what they expect from Serbia, putting pressure on Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

“We call on Kosovo to start the procedure for the establishment of the Association of Municipalities with a Serbian majority in Kosovo, as provided for in the draft statute, and for Serbia to respect the de facto recognition,” the statement said.

Earlier, Vučić stated that he does not recognize Kosovo either formally or unofficially.

But both Serbia and Kosovo aspire to join the EU one day, and the EU bloc insists the two countries will have to resolve their differences before becoming members.

“Without progress in normalizing relations, both sides risk losing important opportunities,” the three leaders said.

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