European Union foreign ministers said Saturday they will remain united on the future of Kosovo even if discussions between Belgrade and Pristina fail to provide a breakthrough.

“The European Union wants to maintain a united position today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow. (Kosovo) is a European question that will affect the present and future of our continent. The will of the member states is to remain united and we will do it,” EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said.

Envoys from Russia, the US and EU are trying to mediate negotiations between Serbs and ethnic Albanians aimed at finding a compromise solution to Kosovo’s status. A final report on the sidelines of these discussions will be filed on December 10, but pressure continues to mount after leaders from the breakaway province said the will declare independence after that date if a solution doesn’t emerge.

Negotiations between the two sides are strenuous due to the hard-line stances adopted by Belgrade and Pristina officials. Serbian leaders said they will never agree with Kosovo’s sovereignty and slammed the plan proposed by United Nations special envoy Martti Ahtisaari.

According to Ahtisaari’s plan, Kosovo would receive its long-desired independence but under the close supervision of the international community. Russia sided with Serbia on this issue and threatened to use its veto right in the UN Security Council to push back the proposal.

During a meeting of EU foreign ministers held in the northern Portuguese town of Viana do Castelo, Solana reiterated that “partitioning Kosovo” is ruled out from the start and such a solution will never be accepted.

The EU’s representative at the negotiations Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger presented the latest developments to the officials, who made a call to all EU member states to support the efforts made by the troika.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said EU’s position would be anchored in the negotiations if Ambassador Ischinger can speak on behalf of all nations member of this bloc, urging once more other countries who preferred to adopt a neutral stance to show their support.

Another issues on the ministers’ agenda was the financial aid offered to the government of President Mahmoud Abbas, al agreeing to resume payments. But several details regarding the future reform treaty were left hanging after two days of talks.