a few seconds agoEU: Lajcak misinterpreted, Constitutional Changes Worth Belgrade
Periskopi(6 years ago)
(6 years ago)Brussels estimates that the special representative's statement on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, for the necessary constitutional changes has been misinterpreted. EU Foreign Policy and Security spokesman Peter Stano told Radio Free Europe that the difference should be made between what is “perceptation and mismanagement, with the reality explained by Mr. Lajcak”. “On [...]
In this case, what is clear is said, and Mr. Lajcak has explained what happens if you are negotiating an international agreement. When an international agreement is reached, then necessary legal arrangements by the government, including the constitutional level, should be considered in order to integrate it into the legal and constitutional order. And that applies to Kosovo and Serbia”, Stano said.
On Thursday, October 15th, at the Belgrade media conference, Lajcak had said that in a serious negotiating process, “is logical that will have to change Constitution” as well.
Such a statement has prompted numerous reactions in Kosovo, mainly against any possibility of changing the Kosovo Constitution. When it comes to the Association, the main concern is the competence of this organ.
But, European Commission for Foreign Policy and Security spokesman Peter Stano says the EU's stance on Association has not changed.
He referred to former High Representative for Foreign Policy Federica Moghrini's speech at the Kosovo Parliament in 2016, where she had dismissed the possibility that association will be a divided power in Kosovo.
“This association will not be a parallel government within Kosovo and there will be no legislative competencies. It will be formed within Kosovo's legal and governing framework”, Moghrini said on May 6th, 2016 in the Kosovo Assembly. According to Stanos, this continues to be the official position of the EU.
The Moghrin also said that the world said the association “would be in line with the Constitutional Court's decision offering instructions to ensure that the Association statute reflects Kosovo's laws when it is compiled”.
Formation of association is envisioned with an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, signed in Brussels in 2013.
Two years later, Kosovo and Serbia reached an additional agreement on the principles of its establishment, but the Constitutional Court of Kosovo has found that the principles are not in harmony with the Kosovo Constitution.
The Constitutional Court had found that the judicial act of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the statute that applies principles to comply with the spirit of the Constitution must meet constitutional standards.
This topic has influenced the postponement of dialogue in Brussels, as Serbia is insisting on discussing association again, and Kosovo is considering a closed issue that will be implemented after reaching the final agreement for mutual recognition.
What is the Association of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo?
The association of Serb majority municipalities is designed to gather around itself ten municipalities in Kosovo, where the majority of the population are Serbs, who are North Mitrovica, Klokot, Partesh, Ranilug, Gracanica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, Novoberda, Leposaviq and Shrpca.
Under the Association Agreement and in accordance with the first Brussels Agreement, the main objectives of Association are: exercise your full look at the development of the local economy; exercise a full look at the field of education; exercise its full focus on improving primary and secondary health and social care; exercise full attention for the co-ordination of urban and rural planning; endorses measures to improve local living conditions for returning to Kosovo; develops, co-ordinates, facilitates research and development activities; promotes, distributes, distributes, and provides for issues of common members and those involved in the central authorities; and other local co-operation, local municipalities, etc.
