Kosovo and Serbia agree border deal

Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on normalising border procedures, one of the thorniest issues in current talks between the two rivals.

An EU statement said: “The parties will gradually set up the joint, integrated, single and secure posts at all their common crossing points.”

Kosovo broke away from Serb rule in 2008, but Belgrade never accepted its independence.

Progress in the EU-mediated talks is seen as a key condition for Serbia to be granted candidate status for EU membership.

The EU is divided on whether to make Serbia a candidate, a key step toward eventual membership in the bloc.

Fifty Nato peacekeepers were recently wounded in clashes with Serb militants who oppose attempts to assert Kosovo’s authority over border crossings with Serbia.