Freedom of Movement (Technical Dialogue Agreement)

• Country/entity

  Kosovo
  Serbia
  Yugoslavia (former)
  
• Region

  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  Europe and Eurasia
  
• Agreement name

  Freedom of Movement (Technical Dialogue Agreement)
• Date

  2 Jul 2011
• Agreement status

  Multiparty signed/agreed
• Interim arrangement

  Yes
• Agreement/conflict level

  Interstate/intrastate conflict(s) ( Balkan Conflicts (1991 - 1995) (1998 - 2001) )
• Stage

  Framework/substantive - partial
• Conflict nature

  Government/territory
• Peace process

  Kosovo-Serbia Normalisation Process
• Parties

  Agreement unsigned, parties believed to be the Kosovo delegation, led by Dr. Edita Tahiri and and the Serbian delegation led by Mr. Borko Stefanovic.
• Third parties

  Agreement unsigned, meeting was chaired by the EU facilitator, Mr. Robert Cooper.
• Description

  A short technical agreement providing entirely for freedom of movement for residents of Kosovo and Serbia to travel freely within the territory of the other. It includes provisions for documentation, car insurance, license plates, and modalities for transiting to a third country.

• Agreement document

  KV_110702_Freedom of Movement (Technical Dialogue Agreement).pdf | Download PDF

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Freedom of movement

1. Residents of each party should be able to travel freely within or through the territory of the other.

2. Each party will apply, as soon as operationally feasible, an ID card system for cross border/boundary travel of residents from the other party.

3. Each party may apply a system whereby ID cards will be accompanied by written 'entry/exit' documents for persons from the other party who wish to transit to a third country.

4. As an interim solution, each party will enable residents of the other to purchase border/boundary insurance.

Under the auspices of the EU, the parties will continue to work for a commercial arrangement on mutual vehicle insurance cover so that all vehicles are covered on both sides of the border/boundary as soon as possible.

5. Each party will take all necessary measures to enable residents of the other party to travel freely within or through the territory of the other using driving licenses issued by their own authorities.

6. As an interim measure, the authorities in Kosovo will extend the validity of KS vehicle license plates for an initial period of five years at the end of which the issue will be reviewed by the two parties (with the facilitation by the EU if required).

7. All car owners residing in Kosovo will use either RKS or KS (as per bullet 6 above) vehicle license plates.

These will be issued by the relevant authorities in Kosovo and distributed with facilitation by EULEX where required.

Each party will do its best to ensure the implementation of above.

8. As an interim measure, the authorities in Belgrade will enable vehicles from Kosovo bearing KS vehicle license plates to travel freely in or through its territory.

9. As an interim measure, for every car owner who wishes, temporary vehicle license plates will be made available at the relevant border/boundary crossings.

10. With regard to readmission, and taking account of Pristina's obligations in this area, the arrangements agreed above will not create new obligations for Belgrade to accept readmission requests for persons holding Kosovo documents within the context of the existing readmission agreement between Belgrade and the EU.

11. An implementation group will be set up, chaired by the EU, by mid-July, that will start preparing implementation in order to ensure that all arrangements above and any necessary follow up will be applied as soon as operationally feasible, bullet 7 arrangements will be applied from 1 November 2011.