To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made on the progress of EU-mediated talks between Kosovo and Serbia in the Northern Kosovo dispute and the effect of such discussions on Serbia's bid for EU accession talks.

The UK welcomes the focus on northern Kosovo in the EU-facilitated Dialogue. Prime Ministers Thaci and Dacic have met on six occasions, under the chairmanship of Baroness Ashton, to discuss the difficult issues that need to be addressed in order to make progress towards eventual normalisation of the Serbia-Kosovo relationship. Some useful progress has been made, including on integrated border management and the exchange of liaison officers in Pristina and Belgrade. The Prime Ministers will meet again on 20 March.

When I met Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister Vucic on 7 March, I set out clearly the UK's support for the opening of accession negotiations with Serbia once the conditions set out by the December General Affairs Council have been met, and in particular the need for Serbia to dismantle its illegal security and judicial structures in the north. We urge all parties to engage swiftly and constructively to reach an agreement and begin implementation.