Stano: Sad to say, despite EU efforts, there was very limited progress in Kosovo- Serbia

The European Union has reacted to the development that took place in Paris on the Council of Europe's Committee for Policy and Democracy, announcing that they have been informed of this.

Europe's Council plays a central role in promoting basic European values and common standards, including human rights and minority protection. It is up to members of the Council of Europe to decide on issues related to this organisation, including its membership. We note that the Commission for Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has discussed and adopted this week draft statuteial opinion on Kosovo's application for membership, prepared by rapporteur Mrs. Dora Bakoyannis”, Stano said.

This success of Kosovo, Serbia could not prevent it as a result, but failed to resist arguing about its efforts to join international organisations despite violating pledges made in the Ohrid Agreement, Article 4.

For these actions of Serbia, European Union spokesman Peter Stano, in a response to Gazeta Express, said it is regrets the agreement is being implemented by both sides.

It is unfortunate that despite the efforts of the EU and the wider international community, so far there has been very limited progress by both Kosovo and Serbia in implementing the obligations they have agreed on under this” agreement.

Stano has said that implementation of the Kosovo-Serbia agreement provisions will become independent of one another. Here he mentioned the Association, which he said is the most concrete “ways for ensuring the protection of Serb rights in Kosovo.

Despite the discussions of the KiE; in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, the EU continues to expect all provisions of the 2017 Agreement on the Road to Normalisation to be properly implemented, in trust and independent of one that the parties agreed on in the area of implementation in Ohrid. This includes establishing the Association/Unibility of Serb-run municipalities in Kosovo, which is the most concrete way to ensure the protection of the Kosovo Serb community”.

Two days ago, the Council of Europe's Committee for Policy and Democracy has approved the report drafted by Greek rapporteur Dora Bakoyannis, where it recommends that Kosovo be invited to become a member of the Council of Europe.

The majority of the votes of these MPs were in favour of the report, but against it have voted two deputies from Serbia -- one vote against it was from Montenegrin deputies and Bosnia and Herzegovina, while one of Greece's deputies has abstained.

In Serbia, Foreign Affairs Minister in technical mandate Ivica Dacic called the decision to recommend Kosovo's membership to the Council of Europe “shameful and scandalous”.

“This decision destroys all principles on which the Council of Europe is based, because for the first time, the acceptance of a territory that is not a member of the United Nations and is not internationally recognised” has been proposed, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

Kosovo's Ambassador to Brussels, Agron Bajrami, the day the report was adopted in Paris, said it was a test day for Serbia and its commitment to the agreement with Kosovo. He referred to provisions of the agreement where parties should intervene in the international sphere and that Serbia should not oppose Kosovo's membership in international organisations.

The “Agreement on the road to normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia” will be tested in Paris. By evening, we'll know if there's a deal or not. As Cervantes would have said: “The pudding test is when eating”, he wrote on X.