Assembly starts works at 12:30, debate, vote for Kosovo membership later expected

A debate on Kosovo's application for membership in the Council of Europe and voting of a draft-opinion will be a major event of this spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (APKE).

Today's session does not start before 12:15 and the debate on Kosovo will be later. Debate expected to be broadcast live on APEC official pages

At the session, initially, Kosovo rapporteur Theodora Bakoyannis will present the consultative report on Kosovo's application for membership. After that, the word will be given to other members, including members of the Kosovo Parliament delegation that are now staying in the APK.

After the debate, the report will be put to the polls, where 2/3 of the votes are required for approval and then forwarded to the Committee of Ministers for Voter. The Committee of Ministers will be held on 16-17 May 2024.

MP Besnik Tahiri, who is part of the Kosovo Assembly delegation in Strasbourg, said there is optimism that most of the votes will be in favour of Kosovo.

On both meetings on the Committees, on that for Equality and No discrimination, and on the Committee for Legal Affairs and Human Rights discussions and voting showed that the overwhelming majority are on our side. In the first vote was clear, 30 votes were Dl, 2 KUNDAY and 4 abstentions while in second, in Legal 23 votes D and 3 KUNDAY. This voting trend correctly shows that 2/3 of the votes are real for today's vote. We will almost have another battle not to vote on 16 amendments, mostly initiated by the Serbian delegation”.