Models mentioned for Association

Kurti, during a visit to Kamenica on March 13th, declined to mention the models the EU has offered to Kosovo authorities, but said some are earlier, and some are newer, used in European states where national minorities live.

At the beginning of March 2023, the European Union confirmed that it has offered Kosovo 15 existing European models for establishing the Association of Serb-run municipalities.

The EU's envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, said these models are in line with European standards, already Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said these models are being addressed and that <x0elements can be taken from them so that not only human rights, but also the rights of national minorities are at the right level even in our country”.

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 told Radio Free Europe that 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.

Bodo Weber, senior associate of the Council for Democratic Policy and Marko Prelec of the International Crisis Group, has been told REL that there are other models that can be taken as an example for Kosovo.

Among these models, they also mentioned the Scandinavian model, or Belgium model, in terms of model rights, including their use of their native language and schooling in their language.

Also, some Spanish regions, such as Catalonia, have different arrangements for communities. For example, in this region, there are special police forces.

This Spanish region, with autonomous status, has long been demanding independence from Spain.

Most media-mentioned models have elements that are mentioned even in agreements Kosovo and Serbia have signed for Association in 2013 and 2015.

In addition to the right to use the language ʹ involved in the Kosovo Constitution, agreements for Association are also mentioned as the police leader in the four municipalities in northern Kosovo, inhabited by Serb majority, to be Serb.

Years ago, Serbs were involved in Kosovo Police structures, but last year, due to the Kosovo Government's decision on car plates, they surrendered to police. Currently, authorities are in the process of recruiting new police officers.

Agreements signed in Brussels also affect adjustments for the development of local economy, health and education.

Prelec told him. REL, that not necessarily the examples mentioned would be a good idea for Kosovo, but according to him, “are more evidence that you can most likely do and at the same time maintain the integrity of the state”.

Both analysts have said that a model for establishing association in Kosovo should be based on Kosovo's demographic structure and political context.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, even at the time he was in opposition, has voiced opposition to establishing a single-ethnic association with executive competencies.

He has voiced fears that something like that would resemble the entity of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On March 13th, speaking of the models offered by the EU, he has stated that “unconstitutional, legality, equality, state functioning are something we never do anywhere compromise”.

The EU, but the United States, has repeatedly asked Kosovo to establish association.