Kosova will send the draft statute for the Association of municipalities with Serbian majority to the Constitutional Court by the end of May. This was announced by Kosova’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Donika Gërvalla, who has sent a letter to the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Theodoros Rousopoulos.

The letter clarifies the concrete steps we will take in line with Kosova’s commitments following the vote for membership in the Council of Europe. The draft statute for the Association will be sent to the Constitutional Court by the end of May 2024.

“Since April 17, 2024, the Government of Kosova has taken concrete and tangible steps towards the full implementation of the Basic Agreement and its implementation annex, including the Association as one of the post-membership commitments. In accordance with the spirit of Article 7 regarding Article 10 of the Basic Agreement, we have already begun consultations with representatives of the Serbian community members to take into account their needs. In this regard, the Government of Kosovo is preparing a draft statute for the Association, inspired by the FES, which will be sent to the Constitutional Court by the end of May 2024,” the letter from Minister Gërvalla states.

According to Minister Gërvalla, this draft meets the needs of the citizens of the Serbian community of the Republic of Kosova and creates mechanisms for their self-governance.

“As part of the accession process to the Council of Europe, after the vote of 82% of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in favor of this membership, in accordance with the commitments made by the three heads of state, this morning I sent a letter to the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The letter contains the commitment that the government of the Republic of Kosovo will prepare a draft for the creation of a mechanism for self-governance, coordination, and cooperation of municipalities with Serbian majority in Kosova, which fulfills Kosova’s international obligations, meets the needs of the citizens of the Serbian community of the Republic of Kosova, but at the same time respects in its entirety and in every detail its Constitution and all the laws of the Republic of Kosova as well as the principles of the Council of Europe. Such a draft serves on the one hand the government’s aim to integrate non-majority communities and implement the laws of the Republic of Kosova in all municipalities,” explains the minister.

According to Gërvalla, the draft for the Association of municipalities with Serbian majority in the north, guarantees respect for the laws of the Republic of Kosova, “and at the same time prevents unacceptable interference from outside.”

“The draft ensures not only full respect for the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Kosova but also prevents unacceptable interference from outside, both in the municipalities of Kosovo and throughout the country. After the concrete realization of our commitment today to take an important and tangible step in fulfilling our commitments, we request and expect from the Council of Europe to fulfill its part of the obligation and invite Kosova to join the Council of Europe without delay, as the country which has not only been subject to the most conditions for membership in this organization but has also fulfilled all these conditions. Independent and sovereign Kosovo, as a democratic and rule-of-law state, remains on its unwavering course towards membership in NATO and the EU,” writes the minister.

/a.p./