Escobar and Lajcak are expected to propose to Kosovo for majority Serb municipalities

Democracy.com exclusively has learned that one of the models expected to be introduced to the Kosovo leadership is similar to that of the German-speaking community in Belgium, the so-called model of the eastern “Belgy”.

The EU and the US seem determined to resolve the issue of the Serbian Communist Association within this year.

The two international emissaries, Gabriel Escobar and Mirsolav Lajcak, will come to Kosovo on 31 January, where they are expected to meet with the country's leaders, including Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The latter is expected to also present several possible models for the Serbian Communist Association.

Democracy.com has exclusively learned that one of the models before which Kurti will be found is similar to that of the German-speaking community in Belgium, which as the region is also known as the “Eastern Library”.

A model similar to what will soon be presented to Kosovo is this of the German-speaking community ( DG == sync, corrected by elderman == German is used in civil service, schools, and courts. The DG extends to the eastern part of Belgium, covering an area of 854 square kilometers along the country's borders with Germany, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

About 77,000 people live in nine DG municipalities, at the crossroads of two cultures, German and Latin.

This model of political competencies largely displaces them to other sectors, such as the education system, the justice system, security, etc. However, the Belgian model also has political competencies, all together making constitutional changes necessary, as the region has legislative powers and preserves a broad autonomy with one parliament, a government and a civil service.

The General Directorate there is responsible primarily for cultural issues, education, professional formation, employment, family and social welfare, as well as monitoring local authorities.

Belgium's Constitution also includes the creation of language zones, which have competencies in many areas.

Article 4 of the Belgium Constitution says: “Belgica consists of four language areas: the German language area, the French language area, the Dutch language area, and the bilingual area Brussels Chief Capital”.

As for the Association of Serbian municipalities, as it has been presented so far in Kosovo, the main issue about its establishment is that of competencies.

In December 2015, the Constitutional Court of Kosovo found that these principles for association were not fully in harmony with the spirit of the Constitution mentioned in Article 3, for “in the pre-law” and the “chapters fundamental rights and freedoms”, as well as the “rights of communities and their members”.

With this Constitutional Court ruling, it was determined that the Association of Serbian municipalities should be established just as it envisions the First Brussels Agreement, ratified by the Assembly of Kosovo.

It is noteworthy that the government of Kosovo, led by Albin Kurti, has consistently voiced opposition to the establishment of the Serbian Communist Association, which they always called Zaednica.

Prime Minister Kurti himself has repeatedly indicated that he will not implement this EU requirement, which from the European bloc has consistently received reactions that such a thing should happen within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, in order to move towards a final agreement, ending with mutual recognition between the two countries.