What Kosovo benefits from KiE membership

Following news of visa liberalisation, Kosovo yesterday received another good news from Strasbourg.

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe moved it forward to the Parliamentary Assembly, Kosovo's application for membership.

This process, which began in May last year, when Foreign Minister Donika Grovall submitted the application, could soon be finalised.

But what benefits Kosovo after joining the KiE?

With 2/3 of the vote for, the Ministerial Council made a decision that the application of the Republic of Kosovo to join the Council of Europe to move forward, a milestone considered historical for the country.

Out of 46 member states, 33 of them told “po” Kosovo in KiE.

Kosovo's fate is now in the hands of the General Assembly, which sets out the conditions through which states can join the Council of Europe through veto rights.

A Little Word for the Council of Europe

The Council of Europe is the main human rights organization on the continent, founded in 1949, headquartered in Strasbourg, France.

It includes 46 member states, 27 of which are part of the European Union.

The European Council agrees on freedom of expression and media, freedom of rally, equality and protection of minorities.

Being an international organisation, the KiE cannot make laws, but has the capacity to promote the implementation of selected international agreements reached by member states, affecting different topics.

The council's two legislative bodies are the Committee of Ministers, which consists of the foreign ministers of each member state, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which consists of members of the national parliaments of each member state.

What Kosovo benefits after Council of Europe membership

All member states of the Council of Europe have signed the European Convention for Human Rights, a treaty designed to protect human rights, democracy and rule of law.

Any country that joins the Council of Europe agrees to undergo independent monitoring mechanisms that assess that state's compliance with human rights and democratic practices. With the KiE become part of both Kosovo and Kosovo, after signing this treaty, they will be helped in fighting these causes.

KiE promotes human rights through international conventions, such as the Convention on Prevention and Combating Violence on Women and Violence in Family and the Convention on Cybercrime. As such, The KiE monitors the progress of member states in these areas and makes recommendations through independent expert monitoring bodies.

Moreover, the Council of Europe helps member states even in combating corruption and terrorism, as well as undertake needed judicial reforms. In the latest U.S. State Department report, government corruption was one of the basic criticisms given to Kosovo, and the same laid out the need for its fight.

With the Republic of Kosovo's aspirations towards European structures, accession to the Council of Europe is a significant step towards membership in the European Union. No state can be admitted to the EU without initially accepting it.

Historic decision on Kosovo, who supported and who rejected it

March 24th 2023 already marks the first stage of an important process for the Republic of Kosovo.

A Council of Europe report says today's decision on Kosovo was based on the 27 February Brussels Agreement and the March 18th Ohrid Agreement reached in the dialogue mediated by the European Union and the importance of all sides implementing them in a proper and trusting manner.

Seven states voted against Kosovo membership: Spain, Romania, Cyprus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Serbia, and Hungary as the biggest surprise, considering the fact that it recognises Kosovo's independence.

Greece, Slovakia, Ukraine and Bosnia abstained, while Armenia did not vote at all.