German Embassy: Supports Kosovo’s CoE membership, urges Pristina to fulfil its obligations

Germany supports Kosovo’s aspiration to join the Council of Europe and encourages Pristina to continue implementing its obligations, including the protection of non-majority communities, the German Embassy in Kosovo said.

Germany supports Kosovo's aspiration to join the Council of Europe, in line with its broader support for Kosovo's objective of integrating into international organisations as an independent and multiethnic state. We encourage Kosovo to continue working on the implementation of its obligations, including the protection of non-majority communities, and to take all necessary steps to secure broader support for Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe," an embassy spokesperson told Gazeta Express.

When asked whether the European Draft Statute of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities should be submitted to the Constitutional Court—a step Kosovo has not yet taken and one of the reasons why support for its Council of Europe membership has been withheld—the German Embassy did not provide a specific answer.

Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe was also recently addressed by French Minister for Europe Benjamin Haddad during his visit to Pristina. He stated that France supports Kosovo's integration into international institutions, but stressed that the process is based on the fulfilment of international obligations.

"This is part of our broader project of reuniting Europe. I say 'reuniting' because I do not like the term 'enlargement'. I believe this is, in fact, about the reunification of our continent. Of course, this process is demanding. It is based on international obligations. In this particular case, it is also based on advancing the implementation of the commitments arising from the Brussels Agreement, which we also discussed. It is equally based on the principle of merit, meaning reforms, alignment with the European Union acquis, strengthening the rule of law, and protecting the rights of minorities. We will be very demanding in all of these areas," Haddad said recently at a joint press conference with Kosovo's Minister Glauk Konjufca.