EU Says Serbia, Kosovo Moving Embassies to Jerusalem Threatens Their Membership Statuses

"Any diplomatic steps that could call into question the EU’s common position on Jerusalem are a matter of serious concern and regret.”

[additional-authors]

Aaron Bandler

September 11, 2020

GORIZIA, ITALY – MAY 08: The European Union flag flies on the wire mesh that divides Piazza Transalpina (Transalpina Square) on May 8, 2020 in Gorizia, Italy. Piazza Transalpina is a square divided between the municipalities of Gorizia in Italy and Nova Gorica in Slovenia. In 1947, the new border created between Italy and Yugoslavia was traced by dividing the square in two, crossed by the so-called “Muro di Gorizia”. From May 1, 2004, with the entry of Slovenia into the European Union, the wall dividing the square was removed, but from March 11, 2020 the Slovenian government closed its borders with Italy to counter the spread of the coronavirus. A wire mesh has been positioned on the square to delimit the border between Italy and Slovenia, dividing many families, friends and couples. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)

The European Union (EU) warned Serbia and Kosovo that if the countries move their embassies to Jerusalem, they might not be able to join the EU.

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said in a September 7 statement, “There is no EU member state with an embassy in Jerusalem. Any diplomatic steps that could call into question the EU’s common position on Jerusalem are a matter of serious concern and regret.”

Stano added that Serbia already is in talks to join the EU, so consequently, the Baltic nation has to adhere to the EU’s foreign policy.

Jewish groups denounced the EU’s stance on the matter.

“If the EU were serious about advancing a two-state solution, it would devote more time to bringing Palestinian leadership to the negotiating table and less time threatening nations for recognizing this truth: Jerusalem is Israel’s capital,” the American Jewish Committee tweeted.

If the EU were serious about advancing a two-state solution, it would devote more time to bringing Palestinian leadership to the negotiating table and less time threatening nations for recognizing this truth: Jerusalem is Israel's capital.https://t.co/doqQbS2n4l

— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) September 8, 2020

The pro-Israel NGO European Leadership Network (ELNET) said in a statement that it was deeply concerned over the matter.

“ELNET strongly believes it is high time the EU updates its position on Jerusalem and recognizes Israeli sovereignty over West Jerusalem,” the statement read. “While we recognize that the Israeli-Palestinian dispute over East Jerusalem ought to be resolved in negotiations, objecting to European embassies in any part of Jerusalem completely defies reality. Jerusalem has been Israel’s capital city since Israel’s inception. Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s Presidency, government, parliament and Supreme Court and as such, is visited by every European leader visiting Israel on official business.

“Adhering to entirely anachronistic UN stipulations (such as the 1947 Partition Resolution which called for the internationalization of Jerusalem) and imposing this position on all its member states, erodes the EU’s ability to play a constructive role towards the desired outcome of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

On September 4, Serbia and Kosovo pledged to move their embassies to Jerusalem, making them the first European country and Muslim-majority to do so, respectively. The agreement also involved Serbia and Kosovo establishing economic relations with each other.

However, Serbia warned Israel that if the Jewish state were to recognize Kosovo as an independent nation, Serbia would renege on its commitment to move its embassy to Jerusalem.

Serbia has been in talks to join the EU since 2009; the talks are expected to be ongoing until 2025, according to The Jerusalem Post.