News

KOSOVO-SERBIA NORMALIZATION: LESSONS FROM THE 1972 GERMAN BASIC TREATY

On April 14, 2024, in Belgrade, the Council for Inclusive Governance (CIG) gathered a group of experts for a workshop to discuss the Kosovo-Serbia normalization process and lessons learned from the 1972 German Basic Treaty. As there is an apparent similarity between the 1972 German Basic Treaty and the 2023 Brussels Agreement, CIG deemed it essential to discuss parallels, differences, and historical experience. The debate was not narrowed to these two treaties but also focused on other examples that could be useful for the process of Serbia-Kosovo normalization. The report’s elements and conclusions are not necessarily based on a consensus but reflect the most critical elements of the discussion. The meeting was held under the Chatham House Rule, and none of the stated content and conclusions could be assigned directly to any of the participants. The meeting is part of a project jointly supported by the Federal Foreign Ministry of Switzerland and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Office in Belgrade. Below is the report from the discussion.