Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on February 17 2008. It was a day full of joy and hope for a country that suffered atrocities including ethnic cleansing, genocide and rape at the hands of Serbian forces during the Kosovo War (1998–1999). The country is now recognised internationally by more than 100 states and has become a member of some international organisations. Kosovo has also established itself as one of the most functional and vibrant democracies in the Balkans. But neighbouring Serbia doesn’t recognise Kosovo’s independence and ethnic Serbs living in the country’s north have largely rejected Kosovo’s state authority. So, in 2011, the EU and the US brought the two countries together for talks on normalising relations. The talks initially yielded some agreements that were hailed as “historic”. The Brussels agreement in 2013, for example, defined the conditions for large-scale devolution of northern Kosovo and opened the way to membership of the EU. But, s
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