Representatives of Serbia and Kosovo will hold talks again today in Brussels to discuss the decision of the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBD) to ban payments in the country in Serbian dinars, Tanyug and BTA news agency reported.
Serbia does not recognize the independence of its former region declared in 2008 and continues to consider it part of its territory. Today's discussions are taking place within the framework of the dialogue on the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, which is being conducted with the mediation of the EU.
From February 1st, a decision of the Central Bank came into force, which stipulates that the euro will be the only currency for cash payments in the country. This has heightened the concerns of the local Serb community, which receives Serbian salaries and pensions in dinars and uses them for purchases and payments in Kosovo. Pristina adopted the euro as its official currency in 2002, although the country is not a member of the eurozone.
The Belgrade delegation, which includes experts, will again be led by the head of the service for Kosovo and Metohija Petar Petkovic. The Kosovo delegation is expected to be led by Kosovo's chief negotiator for the dialogue with Belgrade, Besnik Bislimi.
European Commission spokesman Peter Stano indicated that bilateral meetings will be held with both countries, first with representatives of Belgrade, and then a trilateral meeting will be held.