15 Models for Association, Kurt's position, British Ambassador's Statement for Ohrid Summit

Last week the European Union's envoy for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, during a visit to Pristina, handed it over to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti 15 European models for the establishment of the majority Serb municipalities' association.

Lajcak, during the visit to Kosovo, stressed that all of these are in line with European standards, and none of them have led to failure to the states that have implemented these models, and none of them have anything to do with the “Republic Srska”.

Neither of the 15 European models have been made public by Kosovo nor by Brussels.

But, Radio Free Europe in August last year has reported on some of the European models mentioned in the media, the elements of which could be applied in the case of establishing the Association of Serb-run municipalities.

Various European states, such as Switzerland, Italy, Finland, Spain, Belgium and others, have different regulations regarding the rights of non-US communities.

Finland

One of the models mentioned earlier is that of Finland.

Swedish Minority, in Finland, is entitled to use its native language in schools, but the dialects of members of the Swedish community are also protected.

Even in Kosovo, under the Constitution, the official language is Albanian and Serbian. In Finland, however, the Aland region has a broader autonomy in Swedish language, and the Swedish community has other responsibilities.
For example, the local community on these islands can decide whether residents from other parts of Finland can move there.

Italy

In Italy, from 20 regions as many as they are, five have autonomous status. Despite such status, it is still part of Italy but has greater control of internal regulation, ranging from language to tax collection.

The Trentino-Alto Adage region where the German-speaking minority lives, but other language minorities, there are complicated rules in language.

However, there, representation is structured on the basis of demographic balances between German-speaking and Italian-speaking.
One of these five Italian autonomous regions has the full responsibility of collecting taxes on their territory. Meanwhile, mixed tax collection systems apply in the other four regions, where most go to central governance and central governance decides to spend them on projects in these areas.

Switzerland

The 26 Swiss cantons in large measure are self-government, and according to Marko Preleci, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, have responsibility for Switzerland's external borders as well.

Last August, he has said police in these cantons are not Swiss, but canton police serving on behalf of the Swiss Confederate.
In Switzerland, where various language communities live, cantons have responsibilities in the field of health, welfare, tax collection, and education.

Linked to the 15 models offered by the European Union the previous day, the country's prime minister, Albin Kurti, has declared they are handling them.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said his advisers and some of the ministers are dealing with 15 models for Association that the EU's minister for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, has offered him.

Kurti said that from these models of dealing with national minorities in the European Union, they will see elements that even minorities in Kosovo are at the right level. But it underlined that it would not compromise constitutionality, legality and state functioning.

“Models, which have been introduced by European emissary Lajcak, are different solutions to national minorities in the countries of the European Union, are 15 of which are well-known. I do mention sometimes not risk or forget a part, but in EU countries it is known that only the majority population has minorities. There are 15 such cases mentioned, some are more recent, some earlier even before the European Union has been held.

I believe that they are models from which we can take elements so that not only human rights, but also national minorities can be at the right level in our country... They're being handled by my advisers, by some of the ministers, so we can see what's more favorable. Of course, constitutionality, legitimacy, equality, state functioning are something we never compromise”, he said.

Kurti said that prior to Saturday's meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq in Ohrid, Northern Macedonia, the agenda and context points to be discussed will be known.

Before Saturday we will know the agenda and the content points what will be discussed there. Under the discussion of the implementation plan for the agreement already agreed on under the European proposal, without any change to”, he said.

Otherwise, Kosovo and Serbia agreed on February 27th in Brussels on the principle for European proposal for normalisation of reports.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, March 18th they will meet again, but this time in Ohrid, Macedonia, to discuss Anex for implementation of the European proposal.

Linked to this meeting, to be held on March 18th, British Ambassador to Kosovo Nicholas Abbott has also spoken. Through a status in his Facebook account, Abbott has said this week is important to Kosovo.

According to him, real steps for the relationship between Kosovo and Serbia are expected to be achieved.

This week is important for Kosovo. A real step towards normalisation of relations and mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia” is within reach. Said Abbott.

According to him, the agreement will bring some practical benefits and some political benefits.

The government wants to reach a realistic time implementation plan and welcome that some opposition parties are providing helpful support. Now is the time to take back an agreement and its implementation to secure an agreement that functions for Kosovo. We believe that it is”, Abbott wrote. /Telegraph