Blagojevic: Berlin determined about the formation of the CSM

Former Beta agency correspondent from Brussels, Dragan Blagojevic, assesses that Germany's policy on Kosovo is unequivocal, but that the current stance of this country aligns with the US and France that without the formation of the CSM, there will be no progress towards membership in the Council of Europe.

"Back in March, Gabriel Escobar, a senior American official in charge of the Western Balkans, stated that Kosovo could not join the Council of Europe without first implementing the decision to establish the CSM. Since then, things have been moving in that direction. Both French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz emphasized the same in a joint letter. Kosovo cannot become a member of the Council of Europe; it can be recommended, but that is a condition, and without that condition, there's no discussion. Why? Because they believe that it calms, and to a large extent, if not resolves, at least puts the whole situation in Kosovo on track towards a solution. Albin Kurti and his government and his policy have stood as a barrier to this," Blagojevic stated.

When asked whether such a stance by official Pristina indicates a change in Germany's official policy towards Kosovo, this experienced journalist said that Germany's stance was "always the same."

"Regardless of whether the right-wing center, the CDU, or the left - the Social Democrats or the Greens, who are currently in power, are in charge. All of them, in their policy towards the Western Balkans, start from the fact that Germany justifiably, rightfully, and in defense of basic EU values and rights, intervened militarily with NATO in 1999," Blagojevic explains.

According to him, European officials view the moves by Pristina and Prime Minister Albin Kurti in two ways.

"In private conversations, both with officials and journalists, those who are supportive believe that Kurti must implement a policy needed to establish statehood. Others say he is very stubborn because he refuses to acknowledge the opinions of either the European Commission or the Americans. On the other hand, what can such a policy of Kurti solve or bring to Kosovo or Europe? Then there is a wall, it is over, there is nothing," Blagojevic says.

He adds that Brussels is also confused by the actions of official Pristina, but it is unclear "who is making calculations and what kind."

"Some believe that Kurti is playing on the card that his policy towards Serbs in Kosovo, which is essentially chauvinistic, exclusive, and merely diminishing rights under the pretense of building statehood, actually strengthens his base among the Albanians in Kosovo, especially considering the upcoming elections. However, he cannot win the elections alone if the conviction of the EU, the majority of EU countries, and especially the Americans, is such that they say: ‘He is disrupting what we want to achieve in Kosovo, and we want to stabilize Kosovo. To create a solution that will be the basis for turning the entire Western Balkans towards something that would genuinely integrate into the EU based on the values and what are called the Copenhagen Criteria,’" Blagojevic emphasizes.