The announcement of Serbia and Kosovo’s moves apparently surprised the Europeans, who are leading complex talks between Serbia and its former territory of Kosovo on improving their long-strained relations.

 

Serbia and Kosovo’s  could undermine their EU membership hopes if they move their embassies in Israel  to Jerusalem, the EU warned.

“There is no EU member state with an embassy in Jerusalem,” European Commission foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano said on Monday at the daily press briefing.

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

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Serbia and Kosovo had agreed to normalize economic ties as part of U.S.-brokered talks that include Belgrade moving its embassy to Jerusalem, and mutual recognition between Israel and Kosovo. Pristina would also establish its Israel embassy in Jerusalem.

The EU has regularly reiterated its stance that in the framework of a two-state solution Jerusalem should be the capital of both Israel and a Palestinian state.

Israel considers Jerusalem as its ‘’eternal and indivisible’’ capital. The U.S. moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has extended his thanks to Serbia and Kosovo regarding the move.

“I thank my friend, Serbian President Vučić, for the decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to transfer to it his country’s embassy. I would like to thank my friend, President Trump, for his contribution to this achievement. We will continue efforts so that additional European countries will transfer their embassies to Jerusalem,” he said.

The announcement of Serbia and Kosovo’s moves apparently surprised the Europeans, who are leading complex talks between Serbia and its former territory of Kosovo on improving their long-strained relations.

The so-called EU-facilitated dialogue resumed in Brussels on Monday on normalizing relations between the two countries with talks EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell held with Serbian President Aleksander Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minster Avdullah Hoti.