From Washington to Brussels : the shadow role of US policy in shaping EU-led negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia (2012-2013)
View/
Keywords
Balkans ; Kosovo ; EU ; Washington ; Diplomacy ; Brussels Agreement ; Kosovo-Serbia dialogue ; EU mediation ; U.S. foreign policy ; Transatlantic cooperation ; Hybrid diplomacy ; Western BalkansAbstract
This thesis analyzes the understated yet critical influence of U.S. policy in shaping EU-mediated negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia from 2012 to 2013, particularly focusing on the Brussels Agreement. While publicly represented as an impartial mediator, the European Union’s strategic autonomy in the mediation process was significantly influenced by U.S. diplomatic and strategic involvement. Utilizing historical and political context, the study examines how the EU sought regional stability through incremental cooperation, maintaining a neutral stance by converting politically sensitive disputes into technical dialogues. Concurrently, behind-the-scenes American diplomacy applied significant strategic pressure and bilateral influence to drive the negotiations toward resolution, aligning closely with broader U.S. interests of regional stability, NATO integration, and countering external influences, notably from Russia. The 2013 Brussels Agreement marked a diplomatic milestone, creating structures to integrate Serb-majority municipalities within Kosovo’s legal framework. However, ambiguities in the agreement’s implementation underscore the EU’s limitations due to internal divisions and reliance on U.S. diplomatic assurances and strategic interventions. The interplay between overt EU mediation and covert U.S. influence reveals a hybrid diplomatic model combining European institutional legitimacy with American strategic leverage. Local political reactions to the negotiations varied significantly, highlighting contrasting perceptions of the EU and the U.S., and questioning the long-term legitimacy and sustainability of externally driven elite-focused peace processes. Ultimately, the study illustrates the complexities of transatlantic diplomatic cooperation, challenges the perceived strategic autonomy of the EU in conflict mediation, and offers critical insights into the broader implications for future EU-led peace initiatives in geopolitically sensitive regions.
Postgraduate Studies Programme
American Studies: Politics, Strategy and EconomicsDepartment
Σχολή Οικονομικών, Επιχειρηματικών και Διεθνών Σπουδών. Τμήμα Διεθνών και Ευρωπαϊκών ΣπουδώνNumber of pages
44Language
EnglishCollections
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as
Αναφορά Δημιουργού-Μη Εμπορική Χρήση-Όχι Παράγωγα Έργα 3.0 Ελλάδα
Αναφορά Δημιουργού-Μη Εμπορική Χρήση-Όχι Παράγωγα Έργα 3.0 Ελλάδα