Today, following extensive negotiations chaired by EUSR Miroslav Lajčák, the Chief Negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia, Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petković, agreed in Brussels on the Terms of Reference for the Joint Commission on Missing Persons to be established under the Declaration on Missing Persons endorsed by President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia and Prime Minister Albin Kurti of Kosovo on 2 May 2023. 

The Joint Commission chaired by the EU Facilitator will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons. In particular, it will monitor the Parties’ cooperation:

• On identification of burial sites and follow-up excavations, 
• On access to accurate and reliable information including all relevant domestic and international documentation, use of satellite data, Light and Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and advanced technology for detecting mass graves, 
• And respect for the rights of the families of the Missing Persons. 

The Joint Commission will also monitor and support Kosovo and Serbia in advancing their cooperation under the ICRC-chaired Working Group on Missing Persons. 

The EU welcomes that Kosovo and Serbia reaffirmed that the issue of Missing Persons is of humanitarian concern and highlighted the urgent need for additional efforts to bring closure to the affected families and the wider community. Of the 6,065 cases of persons who have gone missing in the period 1 January 1998 – 31 December 2000, 1,607 remain unresolved. 

The EU commends both sides for their commitment and constructive approach, which made today’s outcome possible. The EU Facilitator invited the Parties to nominate their respective representatives for the first meeting by mid-January next year as set out in the Terms of Reference.

Today’s progress is an important step forward in the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and the implementation of the 2023 Agreement on the Path to Normalisation. It is to the direct benefit of people in Kosovo and Serbia. The EU urges both Parties to start the implementation work of the Agreement in its entirety.