The European Union on Monday condemned Kosovo authorities’ closure of nine Post of Serbia branches, saying that the closures violate the agreements made under the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

In its statement, the EU said that any actions taken independently by Kosovo, without consulting or coordinating with Serbia, will not solve problems in the ongoing process of normalizing relations. The move by Kosovo is seen as a violation of the arrangements made and agreed to in 2013 and 2015 for Kosovo and Serbia to address postal services at a later stage through the ongoing dialogue.

The EU urged Kosovo to reconsider its actions and seek a negotiated solution within the bounds of the EU-facilitated Dialogue. The issue will be addressed at the next Dialogue meeting, and the EU expects Kosovo and Serbia to “develop constructive ideas that could serve as a basis for solutions.” The EU asserted that the closure of the post offices would negatively affect the daily lives and the living conditions of the Kosovo-Serb communities living in the areas affected.

The post office closures garnered condemnation from Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who accused Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti of attempting to spark conflict. The move also drew criticism from the US, with the Embassy of the United States to the Republic of Kosovo issuing a statement Monday which condemned the actions, stating that “Kosovo’s uncoordinated actions put Kosovan citizens and KFOR soldiers at greater risk, unnecessarily escalate regional tensions, and undermine Kosovo’s reputation as a reliable international partner.”