European Union-moderated negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo resume in Brussels on Friday, with the pressure on Belgrade to improve relations with Pristina in order to increase its chances of gaining EU candidacy this year.

The talks follow an escalation of violence in the Serb-majority north of Kosovo last month. The previous round of negotiations broke down in July.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met with Serbian President Boris Tadic in Belgrade last month and warned that his country must make progress in settling its differences with Kosovo if it wants a chance to become an EU candidate in 2011. She added that Serbia's EU candidacy is entering a crucial phase.

One key issue to be discussed Friday involves customs stamps, which sparked deadly gunfire between Serbia and its former province last month.

Kosovo declared its independence in 2008. But tens of thousands of Serbs living in northern Kosovo do not recognize Pristina's authority and want to be governed by Belgrade.

Germany, and 81 other nations, recognize Kosovo's sovereignty. Serbia has said it will never recognize Kosovo as an independent state.