European Union-mediated talks between the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo ended without progress on Thursday, but both sides have committed to continue the dialogue.

Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign affairs chief, said in a statement that "unhappily, we did not get to an agreement today, but it is not the end of the story."

When asked if progress has been made in the talks, Borrell replied, "I couldn't say exactly progress."

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Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo boiled over in recent weeks after Kosovo, a breakaway state which is not universally recognized including by the UN, announced it would require Serbs living there to make two changes. 

Serbs crossing the border would be required to have a temporary document to be in Kosovo instead of their Serbian ID card. They would also be required to have Kosovan license plates on their vehicles, when they have previously been able to have Serbian license plates.

The measures were rejected by Serbs in Kosovo, with roads being blockaded by trucks and protests which carried on for weeks and eventually led to the temporary closure of the Serbia-Kosovo border.

On Wednesday, both leaders held separate meetings with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, in an attempt to reach a compromise.

Stoltenberg said that NATO was prepared to increase its presence in the region, which currently stands at approximately 4,000 troops, should tensions continue to escalate.

Kosovo agreed to delay the enforcement of new rules until September 1, to allow time for talks to take place between both sides in Brussels.

Despite this, hopes of success in the most recent round of discussions were low, with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic saying talks would be difficult as both sides disagree on almost everything.

Borrell added that the EU was eager to continue the negotiations.

"Both leaders agreed that the process needs to continue, and the discussion will resume in the coming days, there is still time until the 1st of September.”

With the September 1 deadline fast approaching, the EU hopes to reconvene both parties to continue the talks in the hopes of breaking the deadlock.