Changing approaches to security / Policy Brief
The International Court of Justice and future of Kosovo
15/07/2010 By Judy Batt
Regardless of the International Court of Justice’s verdict on Kosovo’s declaration of independence, it seems that the battle for recognition will continue. Recognition is essentially a political matter for states to decide for themselves, and those states which have recognised Kosovo will not ‘de-recognise’ it. However, five European Union member states (Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus) still have not recognised Kosovo, and some appear highly unlikely to do so in the foreseeable future. It seems that the key to breaking the current deadlock is overcoming the division within the EU regarding the issue.
This difference in opinion contributes to the incoherence of the EU’s Balkans policy. Its unresolved status is a poisonous source of instability in the region and a serious obstacle not only to Kosovo’s, but also to Serbia’s prospects of eventual EU membership. In this Policy Brief, Judy Batt examines the possible outcomes of the ICJ’s decision and analyses the possibilities of accession for Kosovo and Serbia without Serbia recognising its neighbour.
Download the full version of this publication, available in English (157 kB)
Spanish (146 kB)
To read or listen to the comments of our experts in the media about this and other topics, please visit our Press section.
Keywords
Civil society Democratisation Eastern Europe EU European Union Kosovo SerbiaBio author: Judy Batt
Western Balkans. Serbia. Kosovo. Bosnia and Herzegovina. Russia. Central and South-East European politics. International security.
