Kosovo will apply to the EU and the Council of Europe

The goals are clear: the European Union, the Council of Europe and NATO. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, on the anniversary of her work as president, said that they are working hard for Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe and NATO. But according to her, NATO membership is more complicated. Regarding the Council of Europe, Osmani said that 2/3 of the ministers who will vote in the EC are from countries that have recognized Kosovo’s independence.

“I have asked for arrangements to be made for the application to the Council of Europe to be made this year. We are working with our partners to make this time period as short as possible for the Republic of Kosovo. “Of the countries that will vote in the Council of Ministers, which is the last step of voting in the Council of Europe, more than 2/3 have recognized the independence of the Republic of Kosovo and we hope that they will vote in favor”, said Osmani. As for Kosovo’s membership in NATO, the President said that this is a more complicated process, as voting and decision requires full unanimity.

NATO membership

“As for NATO membership, it is much more complicated, because it requires a vote and a decision with full unanimity. “There are also 4 European countries in NATO that have not recognized Kosovo”, said President Osmani. However, she said that “Kosovo will ensure that it meets all the criteria for NATO membership, while the other goal is membership in the Partnership for Peace”, although Kosovo has not yet been invited to join.

But how do analysts view Kosovo’s goal of NATO membership? Director of the Institute for Research and Development Policy KIPRED Lulzim Peci, told DW that without the recognition of Kosovo by these countries, it is almost impossible for Kosovo to be part of NATO.

“The requests of the Kosovar side for NATO membership are legitimate. But their feasibility is complex, because, first of all, Kosovo has a problem that four NATO countries do not recognize. And another problem is that Kosovo has not yet regulated its relations with Serbia, so these are the two key elements that will hinder Kosovo in terms of accelerated rapprochement with NATO. However, if the situation in the region changes rapidly, then there is a possibility that even these obstacles will be overcome “, says Lulzim Peci. According to him, a final agreement with Serbia will lead to the recognition of Kosovo by the four countries and this will of course facilitate Kosovo’s path to NATO.

PDK supports EC membership

Support for the government for Kosovo’s application for membership in the Council of Europe was also made by the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Kosovo PDK. The deputy leader of this party, Vlora Çitaku, says that “so far this has not been possible due to Russia’s influence in the Council of Europe”. But with the suspension of Russia by the Council of Europe due to the aggression against Ukraine, “a new momentum has been created, where the government of Kosovo can start the procedure for membership in this important structure.”

“Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe is a multiple benefit for our country in terms of strengthening democracy, rule of law and cooperation in the European family and beyond. Among other things, it is a benefit for our citizens, who would have access to justice at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, where the principles of justice of the European Charter of Human Rights are applied, which is already incorporated as an entity within the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. This is an urgent matter. “As a leading opposition party, it will strongly support the government in this state objective and in the other steps it must take for NATO and EU membership”, says Çitaku.

International reactions

The German Government’s Charge d’Affaires for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, has estimated that the German Government would support Kosovo’s application for membership in the Council of Europe. In an interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, when asked if Germany would support Kosovo’s application for membership in the EC, now that there is a two-thirds majority after Russia’s suspension from the organization, Sarrazin said there was no doubt. for Germany’s support in this case.

“Germany has recognized Kosovo. However, we are committed to a country recognized by us, to be a member of international organizations. Moreover, in organizations such as the Council of Europe, which are committed to raising the standard for the protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens, including those of minorities in Kosovo. “When is the right moment to apply for membership in the Council of Europe, this should be assessed by the Kosovo Government itself,” said Sarrazin.

Another major goal is the Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who promises that during this year Kosovo will apply for membership in the European Union. Regarding the application to the EU, Kurti said that they will do it during the meeting of the Stabilization and Association Council.

Application in the EU

“Kosovo is a potential country for the candidate country and has been promised the prospect of membership in the European Union. Therefore, we are committed to implement our part of the obligations and to intensify the cooperation with the member states and the institutions of the European Union in order to advance to the next phase of membership “, said Kurti.

“We will apply this year to become a member of the European Union. It would be very good for Kosovo to be accepted in the Council of Europe and in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program “, calling on the five EU member states that have not yet recognized Kosovo’s independence to do so. the big step towards recognition.

“We are in contact with non-recognizing states. Four of them are also in NATO: Spain, Slovakia, Greece and Romania. “But we are in contact with Cyprus, which is part of the European Union but not of NATO,” said Kurti.

The goals are (un) real

But how do the international authorities see the intention of Kosovo but also of Serbia for membership in the European Union. The Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Thomas Szunyog, said that for Kosovo’s membership in the EU, the first step is the normalization of relations with Serbia. According to him, Kosovo before the application should consult with member states in order to reach a common consensus.

“The treatment is the same, but the processes are in different stages and Kosovo is where it is, because it started late. The EU expects Serbia to align with EU policies. If you are not approximated you can not enter the EU. The expectation is that Serbia will approximate all measures. Normally, it is not only the EU, it is Kosovo’s responsibility to progress on the road to the EU, to have normalization of relations with Serbia, which is the first condition. “Kosovo can apply for EU membership, the first step is the successful conclusion of the dialogue for a final agreement”, said Szunyog.

He advises official Pristina for Kosovo to move forward. “My advice before we move is that there should be consultation with member states. “The invitation should be sent to them and it should be done with the consensus of the states”, said Thomas Szunyog, during a debate organized regarding the impact of the Ukrainian war in the Balkans./DW

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