French Ambassador: We have recommended to the Government of Kosovo sending the draft association status to the Constitutional Court

This committee will convene on 16 May in Strasbourg.

France and Germany have called for conditioning KiE membership with the Association of Serb-run municipalities.

On the other hand, the Government of Kosovo has said it refuses to accept that these two issues are related to each other.

France's embassy in Pristina in a response to Kanal10 has confirmed that they have recommended to the Government of Kosovo to hand over the draft association status to the Constitutional Court.

“This statute has been fully adopted by countries supporting EU-led dialogue”, said the embassy's response, adding where the draft state offers so far the best and only basis for the creation of association.

“Sending the draft Association statute to the Constitutional Court for interpretation would send a strong signal of Kosovo's commitment to fulfil this issue and further demonstrate Kosovo's commitment to minority rights, which is one of the pillars of the Council of Europe, and would therefore be a welcome step to ensure support for Kosovo's membership at the Council of Europe”, the French Embassy's response to Kanal10.

Rohde: The agenda in the KiE could be changed at the last minute, the more eager Kosovo makes the decision, the more realistic membership