Serbian police have banned a cultural exchange festival with Kosovo after a rally by far-right protesters outside the venue. The Belgrade police cited security concerns, aiming to prevent 'danger to the security of people and property and to public peace and order on a larger scale.' The protest, involving right-wing extremists waving Serbian flags and 'No surrender' banners, was also banned. The Mirëdita, dobar dan festival, organized by youth groups from Serbia and Kosovo, has alternated locations between the two regions for the past decade. This year's ban in Serbia marks a toughening stance against critics by the Serbian government. The festival, scheduled to start with a theatre show from Kosovo, aimed to 'enrich regional perspectives and foster cooperation and peacebuilding.'

The ban coincided with EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell's statement that no progress had been made in talks between Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The discussions, aimed at normalizing ties under an EU-backed agreement, remain stalled due to unresolved issues. Borrell emphasized the EU's continued efforts to normalize relations between Belgrade and Pristina, warning that refusal to compromise jeopardizes their chances of joining the EU. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move not recognized by Belgrade.