The agreement reached on 19 April 2013 between Serbia and Kosovo, under the auspices of the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, has been heralded as a landmark deal for the normalisation of Belgrade-Prishtina relations. Although the agreement foresees a new legal status and the stabilisation of Northern Kosovo through local elections, the situation on the ground is overshadowed by the recognition struggle, keeping at bay the prospects of reconciliation of Serb and Albanian communities on the ground. How does the 19 April agreement and its implementation affect people's daily lives? How can the EU ensure that the normalisation of relations between the two Balkan neighbours is comprehensive and continues in tandem with Serbia and Kosovo’s progress towards the Union?

The issues related to dialogue were discussed  by Fernando Gentilini, Director for Western Europe, Western Balkans and Turkey, European External Action Service, Alessandro Rotta, from the office of European Special Representative to Kosovo, Aferdita Sylaj, Executive Director of Community Building Mitrovica and Nenad Đurđević from the Forum for Ethnic relations. The debate was introduced by Antonio Missiroli, Director of EUISS and chaired by Rosa Balfour, Senior Policy Analyst and Head of the Europe in the World Programme at the EPC.