Stano for Association draft status: Not discussed with Serbia, Lajcak, unknown or consistent with the 2013-2015 Agreement

European Union spokesman Peter Stano has commented on Kosovo's draft status for establishing the Association of Serb majority municipalities that will lead him to the Constitutional Court for assessment.

“Contents of the draft status being warned that it will be drafted by the Kosovo government is unknown and has not been discussed with Serbia and EU facilitator (Miroslav Lajcak). Therefore, it is impossible to assess its compliance with the 2013 and 2015 Accords at this stage”, Stano said.

Stano said dialogue mediated by the European Union and Kosovo's application for membership in the Council of Europe ( KE) are separate processes, however, both the EU and the KiE are organisations based on respect for rule of law, human rights and protection of the rights of people belonging to national minorities.

It is important to remember that the establishment of the Association/Resolute Serb-run Communists is Kosovo's incomplete obligation stemming from the 2013 Dialogue Agreement yet the only Dialogue Agreement ratified by the Kosovo Parliament with 2/3 parliamentary majority. Therefore, it is a clear legal obligation for Kosovo under international law and therefore an issue of rule of law important to both organisations”, Stano told Reporter.net.

Stano said that the B welcomes Kosovo's readiness to be engaged finally now after, as he put it, unfortunately, Kosovo has not taken any steps towards establishing association, and therefore towards increased protection of the rights of the people belonging to minorities, despite numerous opportunities to do so.

“at the same time, according to relevant dialogue agreements, the statute for establishment of association must be presented and discussed in dialogue. In October 2023, The EU, supported by member states and its partners, introduced a draft state for the establishment of association based on the best European models and practices, as well as the legal framework of Kosovo”, Stano said.

It added that, in its conclusions in December 2023, “The European Council welcomed Serbia and Kosovo's <x1-second preparedness to accept the draft status submitted by EU facilitator”. This is a formal recognition of the document from the 27 EU member states”.

Kosovo Foreign Minister Donika Grovalla said 16 May that she has announced the Council of Europe through a letter that Kosovo is preparing the draft status station to send to the Constitutional Court by the end of May.

We have very seriously expressed our will to contribute constructively. This step was not an easy one for the Government of Kosovo. We have expressed our will and we expect what reaction will be”, Gervalla said on May 16th.

Then reactions began.

The German Embassy in Pristina, also calling to other QUINT countries- The US, Britain, France and Italy said their request was to hand over the draft state to the Constitutional Court before the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers meeting.