The Kosovo and Serbian governments reached a last-minute deal on Wednesday to end their nearly two-year dispute over vehicle license plates in northern Kosovo.

Last night the head of the European Union’s diplomacy, Josep Borrell, announced on Twitter the completion of the negotiations in Brussels with the mediation of the European Union.

We reached an agreement between #Kosovo and #Serbia today that will allow to avoid further escalation.

We will discuss next steps within the framework of our proposal for normalisation of relations between the two parties. pic.twitter.com/YQ7vVWPOgT

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) November 23, 2022

Authorities in Kosovo intended to begin issuing fines today to some 10,000 Serb drivers who are still using license plates issued by Serbian authorities.

An earlier attempt to strike a deal failed on Monday as Kosovar Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, and Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, were unable to reach an agreement and Pristina delayed the start of imposing the fines for 48 hours at the request of the USA.

According to Mr. Borrel, Serbia will stop issuing license plates to vehicles in Kosovo cities and Kosovo will suspend any further action related to issuing new license plates.

Kosovo authorities attempted this year to force members of the Serbian minority to change their old license plates issued before 1999 when the province was still part of Serbia. Yet the Serbs who live mainly in the north of the country put up resistance, sometimes violently.

About 50,000 Serbs living there refuse to recognize Pristina’s authority and continue to consider themselves citizens of Serbia.

For her part, the President of Kosovo, Viosa Osmani, thanked Washington for the agreement.

Also read: Kosovo – Serbia | EU-brokered Pristina-Belgrade talks