Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi and Serbia Prime Minister Ivica Dacic agreed on Friday to grant semi-autonomous status to four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo. The deal has been brokered in EU mediated talks and still has to be confirmed by Parliaments of both sides.

According to the 15-point agreement as published by B92, the Community of Serb Municipalities is officially recognized as a partially self-governing entity, encompassing the Serb-majority municipalities of Northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic. The text says that the Community "will have full overview of the areas of economic development, education, health, urban and rural planning". As to what "full overview" exactly means is not clear, although immediately after this article it is said that the Community "will exercise other additional competences as may be delegated by the central authorities". It can thus be inferred that "full overview" would mean "powers" on the aforementioned areas.

In addition to this, the agreement also foresees that the four Serb-majority municipalities will have their own police commander nominated by the Government of Kosovo "from a list provided by the four mayors" of the municipalities. There will also be a Serb majority among policemen and policewomen in the region.

The deal also paves the way for other Serb-majority municipalities to join the Community "provided the members are in agreement".

Belgrade: Kosovo independence will never be recognised

Even if the deal means that Belgrade accepts the existence of a central authority in Kosovo under which the Community of Serb Municipalities will be placed, the Serbian Government has been quick to point out that "Serbia has not recognised Kosovo's independence, nor will it ever do so".

Marko Duric, adviser to Serbian president, has argued that the agreement is good for Serbia, B92 reports. On the one hand, Belgrade has "legalized Serbian institutions" in Kosovo. On the other, Duric has said, Serbia will not be forced to accept Kosovo UN membership.

But it is also true that Kosovars have also got a concession. One of the 15 points reads that "neither side will block, or encourage others to block, the other side's progress in their respective EU paths".

Further information:

• Previous articles on Nationalia:Belgrade an Pristina agree on customs, Dacic sees "first step" to Kosovo Serb autonomy and Belgrade focuses on rights for Kosovo Serbs in "realistic" approach