Berlin expects Kosova to submit to the Constitutional Court the draft statute of the EU envoy for the Kosova-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, as a precondition for membership in the Council of Europe (CoE).

During a speech in the Bundestag on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Council of Europe, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on Kosova to do everything possible to join the CoE.

“Kosova must join the Council of Europe,” said Baerbock.

“We urge all parties involved, and those responsible in Kosova, to do everything possible to ensure that we achieve the necessary majority for membership as soon as possible“.

Frank Schwabe, chairman of the German delegation to the Council of Europe, also stated that Kosova must do everything it can to play a role in this, and it has done so through a letter sent regarding the issue of Serbian minorities and the Association of Communes, he added.

But the Social Democratic MP gave the minister a message before heading to Strasbourg, where he would participate in the Annual Ministerial, not to forget the outcome of the vote in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

“More than 80% of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted in favor of Kosova’s accession. The Social Democratic Party and the parties of the government coalition support this membership, so Kosova must become the 47th member of the Council of Europe,” he said.

Knut Abraham, from the opposition CDU/CSU, criticized the staff of Chancellor Olaf Scholz for this position in the Bundestag session.

“I don’t understand why the skeptics in the Federal Chancellery don’t understand that this is a historic opportunity,” said the former diplomat, who, before becoming a MP, had previously worked in the Federal Chancellery (during Angela Merkel’s administration).

According to him, “if we’re talking about stabilizing the Western Balkans, now is the time, now the final decision must be made for Kosova’s admission to the CoE.”

Abraham suggested that the Committee of Ministers of Foreign Affairs be convened again in a special session, now that Kosova has shown readiness to submit the draft statute for the Association to the Constitutional Court. This is a historic moment. And the government of Kosova has taken a very important step, he commented.

A month ago, Kosova’s accession to the Council of Europe, the most important intergovernmental European organization for human rights, seemed achievable. With an overwhelming majority of over 82 percent, members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg voted to admit the newest European state as the 47th member. This decision followed the recommendation of former Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who, as CoE rapporteur, had previously assessed Kosova’s suitability for CoE membership.

Kosova, which declared independence from Serbia, is officially recognized by 116 countries, including 34 of the 46 members of the Council of Europe.

/According to DW/