The referendum was announced on December 25, 2011, by Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor Krstimir Pantić, to ascertain local opinion about the writ of the Republic of Kosovo's institutions.

[6][7] Kosovan Serbs feared that Serbia opposed the referendum in order to win support for accession to the EU, a condition of which is to resolve the Kosovo dispute.

[8] Similarly, the Foreign Ministry of Albania expressed concern about holding a referendum, stating it was not legal and would not serve the interest of ethnic communities to socially, economically and politically integrate within Kosovo.

[citation needed] The Republic of Kosovo sought to impose its customs officials in the administrative border crossings with Serbia.

[citation needed] On 1 March, the accession of Serbia to the European Union was given "candidate status" on the premise of progress over the Kosovo dispute (as well as other "reforms").