Analysts: EU sanctions affect Kosovo's request for membership in the Council of Europe

Although the European Union and the Council of Europe are two independent organizations, EU sanctions may affect Kosovo's eventual membership in the Council of Europe this year, according to Kosovo's international relations experts, Telegrafi reports.

After submitting the request in May last year, Kosovo took an important step in April this year by passing the first accession phase in the Council of Europe. After the escalation of the situation in the north of Kosovo, the European Union imposed sanctions on Kosovo in June, demanding de-escalation.

Professor of International Relations, Dritero Arifi, says that EU sanctions, unfortunately, can have a negative impact on Kosovo's path to the Council of Europe.

"I do not believe that there will be a decision on Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe this year. It takes time. But, knowing that we are also under sanctions, I do not believe that this will come to the fore, because our partners, without whose help we cannot become members, will ignore us until there is a de-escalation in the north," Arifi said.

Professor Dorajet Imeri, however, says that the influence of the EU on new memberships in the Council of Europe is impossible.

"If the EU states would prevent Kosovo from entering the Council of Europe, where they are members, then the members of the Council of Europe coming from the EU would be against the Ohrid Agreement, which they supported. But everything is possible. You know what kind of approach European countries had and have to the political processes that the country is going through," Imeri said.

Political analyst Gazmir Raci believes that EU measures against Kosovo will be removed in September.

"I do not think that EU measures are related to the process of Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe. But, of course, the results of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, with the mediation of Brussels, will have a very important impact on Kosovo's path to the Council of Europe," Raci said.

The Council of Europe, which has 46 members, is an international organization that deals with the protection and advancement of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Europe.