Serbia has challenged the European Union’s assessment of the Ibar Bridge, saying the findings do not accurately reflect conditions on the ground. Petar Petković, Serbia’s chief negotiator in the Belgrade Pristina dialogue, raised the issue with EU Special Representative Peter Sørensen as discussions continue over the future of the bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica.
The Ibar Bridge remains one of the most sensitive symbols of the division between the communities in Mitrovica. The dispute centers on an EU backed technical assessment commissioned to examine the bridge’s structural condition and stability. While the study is focused on engineering issues, the bridge’s future is closely connected to questions of movement, security and relations between the two sides.
The European Union has previously said that the assessment was intended to provide updated and objective information about the bridge. Brussels has also stressed that the technical study does not itself mean that the existing situation will immediately change. EU officials have called for previously reached agreements concerning the bridge to be implemented.
The issue is also linked to the wider EU facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. Sørensen has continued meeting representatives from both sides as the EU works to establish a framework for further talks and implementation of existing agreements. Petković has previously raised concerns with Sørensen over what Belgrade describes as unilateral actions by Pristina and their impact on Serbs living in Kosovo.
The Ibar Bridge has significance far beyond its physical structure. For years, it has represented the division of Kosovska Mitrovica, while proposals concerning its reopening or future status have repeatedly created political tensions. A technical assessment can provide information about the bridge’s condition, but any major decision about its future is likely to require broader political agreement.
Petković’s latest criticism underlines how sensitive the Ibar Bridge remains within the wider normalization process. While the EU continues to promote dialogue and technical solutions, disagreements over how conditions on the ground are interpreted could make progress more difficult. The future of the Ibar Bridge is therefore expected to remain closely watched as negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina continue.
