(ANSA) - BRUXELLES - The European Union does not dictate any rules to Belgrade and Pristina, its role is "to facilitate agreements and understandings" and, since the two countries have entered a new phase, "I see a possibility for a qualitative leap to happen from now to the end of 2018", EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, told journalists after the meeting with the Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic, in Brussels.

During the last weeks, Serbia and Kosovo's governments have discussed with the European Union about the future framework of the facilitated dialogue and the next steps to follow, Mogherini explained. The EU High Representative confirmed that the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, have met several times in the last month.

"I would expect that the new phase of the dialogue can be at full speed by the end of the year", said Mogherini, even though more concrete results are expected to be seen at the end of 2018.

Mogherini pointed out that Serbia is showing its commitment "to coordination and cooperation" in the whole region of the Western Balkans, "trying to overcome some of the ghosts of the past and trying to build the bright avenues for the future".

(ANSA).