The government says that the addition of measures by the EU deepens the injustice towards Kosovo

The Government has called the European Union's warning about increasing punitive measures against Kosovo unfair. In the Office of the Prime Minister, they said that the actions which the international community is considering as unilateral and uncoordinated, are a matter of the rule of law, for which they said they expect the support of the EU and the USA. And some of the political experts estimate that the EU is using the measures as a means of blackmailing the Government

The European Union would deepen the injustice towards Kosovo if it increases the measures against it, said the Public Communication Office of the Prime Minister. In an answer to TIME, this office emphasized that the measures are not a solution and that even those in force against Kosovo are unfair. In response, it was underlined that the EU has not taken such measures against Serbia for the terrorist attack in Banjska i Zvecani.

"Measures are not a solution. Time has proven that the EU's measures against Kosovo have been unfair. They continue to be so as long as they are in force. Adding them would only deepen the injustice. On the other hand, the question arises as to what measures the EU took against Serbia, which after the terrorist and paramilitary attack declared a National Day of Mourning for the three terrorists killed in Banjska, whose leader, Millan Radoicic, shelters and finances", says the answer of The government.

While the EU threatened with measures after the actions of the Government to close 9 offices of the Post of Serbia and warnings about the opening of the Ibri Bridge, the Government says that the West should support the rule of law.

"We need the support of the EU, but also of the United States of America, especially in the field of rule of law and respect for the agreements reached in Brussels. The closure of nine offices of the Post of Serbia, which operated without a license and illegally, is a matter of the rule of law. Meanwhile, the opening of the Mitrovica bridge over the Iber River is a matter of complete freedom of movement, the rule of law and respect for the agreements reached by Brussels in 2015, in addition to a direct contribution to the further integration of our citizens", it is further stated in the Government's response.

Regarding the warnings about the measures, there was no response from the European Union.

Muja: The EU is using the measures as blackmail

Basri Muja, an expert on political issues, considers it senseless to impose sanctions on a state that takes legal action. According to him, the EU is using these measures as a means of blackmailing the Government of Kosovo. He says that the Government should coordinate with the allies, but it should not even discuss with them the issues related to law and order.

"The European Union is trying, through these measures, to somehow restrain the Government of Kosovo in establishing law and order throughout the territory of Kosovo. Of course, he tends to use these measures as a means of blackmailing the Government of Kosovo, all because of his inability to convince Serbia to implement the agreements", he said.

Muja also commented on the existing measures which he says have done enough damage to Kosovo. In case they were to be expanded, he says that they would be a continuation of the current ones, which he says mean the complete withdrawal of activities or funds suspended during this time. But, considering the situation in the EU with changes in leadership positions, he does not expect that there will be other measures.

"I think that something like this will not happen because this really does not make sense and I really hope that the European Union in this phase of the transition of power will not find time to deal with the establishment of measures or the tightening of existing measures towards Kosovo". he added.

Canaj: If the bridge opens, Kosovo will be sanctioned by the EU

Unlike Muja, former diplomat and political analyst, Blerim Canaj, says that if the Ibri Bridge is opened, measures against Kosovo will be inevitable. According to him, in order not to be punished, the Government must coordinate every action with its partners.

"We have now become a security issue precisely because of some uncoordinated steps taken by the government or partners. Coordination with partners may seem to us as a touch on the internal affairs of Kosovo, but we must take into account that there are some partners who are guarantors of security in Kosovo and they have the burden of security and for the sake of this, then necessarily some steps who may eventually affect security should be dealt with," he said.

He said that even though measures are being taken against the Government's actions, they will also affect the people of Kosovo, since, as he says, they will have an economic and political effect.

"Until now it has been said that the measures are imposed on the Government, not the people of Kosovo, but unfortunately these measures imposed on the Government are also affecting the people of Kosovo because Kosovo is being excluded from funds and the impossibility of bilateral meetings of our citizens with the world around", he said.

Currently, Kosovo is under EU measures which were imposed on it last year due to the non-fulfillment by the Government of the international conditions for the extension of the situation in the north of the country. The existing punitive measures include the temporary suspension of the work of the bodies established under the Stabilization and Association Agreement, as well as the non-invitation of Kosovo to high-level meetings and the suspension of bilateral visits, except for those focused on addressing the crisis in northern Kosovo within the framework of the dialogue facilitated by the EU.

It has been about two months since the chief European diplomat, Josep Borrell, in his report stated that the circumstances for the lifting of the measures have been met, but the decision from the member countries has been missing.