The government of Kosovo is pushing for the country’s admission as a new member in the Council of Europe, but faces challenges convincing Western powers to vote in favor. Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz has sent a letter outlining Kosovo’s proposal on Serb-majority municipalities to the head of the Council of Europe’s Parliament Assembly. The government is working on a draft bill that will be sent to Kosovo’s Constitutional Court by the end of May in hopes of gaining support for membership. Kosovo needs a two-thirds’ yes vote from 46 member countries for council membership, but it is unclear if the vote will be on the agenda.
Reports from the media in Kosovo suggest that the vote on the country’s membership is not included in the agenda for the Council of Europe meeting, apparently due to concerns from France and Germany. These countries are not convinced that Kosovo has taken sufficient steps to establish an association with its Serb-majority municipalities in the north. This association is meant to coordinate work on various aspects of governance in these areas and serve as a bridge with the Kosovo government. However, Prime Minister Albin Kurti has expressed opposition to this condition, fearing it could lead to the creation of a Serb mini-state with wide autonomy.
Despite assurances from the United States and the European Union, Kosovo remains concerned that the establishment of the association with Serb-majority municipalities could have negative consequences. The fear is that this move could pave the way for a Serb mini-state similar to the Republika Srpska in Bosnia. The association was first agreed upon in Brussels in 2013 and approved by the Kosovo parliament, but was later deemed unconstitutional by Kosovo’s Constitutional Court for not being inclusive of other ethnicities and potentially granting executive powers. The court will now review the new draft to determine its constitutionality.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has dismissed Kosovo’s efforts as a “trick” rather than a genuine attempt to implement the agreement from Brussels. The foreign ministers’ vote is the final step before Kosovo can be invited to join the Council of Europe. The EU-facilitated normalization talks between Kosovo and Serbia have reached a stalemate, with Brussels warning that both countries’ refusal to compromise could hinder their chances of joining the EU. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s formal declaration of independence in 2008, stemming from the 1998-1999 war between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo. NATO intervention in 1999 ended the war and pushed Serbian forces out.
This development highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Kosovo in its quest for international recognition and inclusion. The country’s efforts to join the Council of Europe are met with skepticism from key Western powers, who question Kosovo’s commitment to addressing issues related to its Serb-majority municipalities. The constitutional aspect of the association remains a sticking point, with concerns about its implications for governance and autonomy. As Kosovo navigates these obstacles, its relationship with Serbia and broader aspirations for EU membership are at stake. The decision of the Council of Europe’s foreign ministers will have significant implications for Kosovo’s diplomatic future and its ongoing efforts towards integration with European institutions.
