‘Balkan Peninsula Rivals’ Kosovo vs Serbia, Another Conflict Over Vehicle License Plate Replacement Issue

Serbian Residents in Kosovo Oppose Forced Vehicle License Plate Replacement
“I Can't Issue Fines with My Own Hands” 578 Serbian Police Officers Resign

578 Serbian police officers in Kosovo have resigned so far in protest against the government's vehicle license plate replacement measure. Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] Kosovo and Serbia, 'bitter rivals of the Balkan Peninsula' sharing a border and currently in conflict, are experiencing tensions over the issue of replacing vehicle license plates. Kosovo endured a brutal civil war in the late 1990s when it attempted to separate and declare independence from Serbia during the breakup of the Yugoslav Federation, resulting in thousands of deaths.

After the civil war, Kosovo declared independence in 2008 with the approval of the United Nations, the United States, and Western Europe. However, Serbia, backed by allies Russia and China, does not recognize Kosovo's independence and still considers it part of its own territory, leading to ongoing clashes. The current license plate replacement issue is another facet of the Kosovo-Serbia dispute.

◆ Majority of Serb residents in Kosovo use Serbian vehicle license plates

Currently, most Serb residents living in Kosovo use vehicle license plates issued by Serbia. However, the Kosovo government plans to replace all vehicle license plates of Kosovo drivers with plates issued by Kosovo authorities by April 21 next year. The Kosovo government announced that after a three-week grace period from the 1st to the 21st of this month, it will impose a fine of 150 euros (approximately 210,000 KRW) on illegal license plates.

Angered by Kosovo's actions, Serb residents have caused unrest by blocking roads with trucks and firing guns at Kosovo police. According to Reuters on the 7th (local time), Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti claimed at a press conference that the organized resistance by Serb residents over the license plate replacement is supported by the Serbian government, calling it sabotage, or a destructive operation, by Serbia.

◆ 578 Serb police officers resign in protest against license plate replacement

Serb residents living in Kosovo are strongly opposing the license plate change, refusing to accept it under any circumstances. On the 6th, over 10,000 Serb residents gathered in northern Mitrovica, Kosovo, waving Serbian flags in protest. Serb public officials, including civil servants, lawmakers, judges, and police officers, have been submitting resignations en masse and withdrawing from Kosovo state institutions. The number of Serb police officers who resigned, refusing to issue fines themselves, has reached 578.

As major Serbian politicians, including President Aleksandar Vu?i?, expressed support for the collective actions of Serbs in northern Kosovo, Prime Minister Kurti strongly criticized the Serbian government, accusing it of trying to destabilize Kosovo. Following rising tensions over vehicle license plates between Kosovo and Serbia since last summer, the European Union (EU) has once again spoken out.

Peter Stano, spokesperson for the EU Commission, expressed concern, saying, "In recent days, we have witnessed a very dangerous situation. This affects not only Serbia and Kosovo but the entire region." Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), tweeted on the same day, urging "President Vu?i? and Prime Minister Kurti to refrain from unilateral actions that could worsen the situation," adding, "Dialogue is the only way forward."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.