Gogic: The issue of the CSM is slowly falling into the background, most Brussels agreements have collapsed

Political scientist Ognjen Gogic believes that while the EU and the US are still interested in the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, this topic is slowly falling into the background and becoming irrelevant due to the collapse of most previous agreements between Belgrade and Pristina in the dialogue process.

"The calls about the CSM have become irrelevant. Despite persistent calls, there is no progress, and moreover, other agreements are also collapsing. In that sense, it is somewhat expected that this issue is gradually taking a back seat," Gogic said for Kosovo Online.

However, he emphasizes that this does not mean that the EU and the US have abandoned the CSM, not only because they were guarantors of the agreement but also because the formation of the CSM could become a new tool to pressure Serbia.

"There is no doubt that both the EU and the US are interested in seeing the CSM formed. They see it as a solution to a large part of the existing problems. They also feel responsible for the fact that the CSM has not yet been formed, as they were, in a way, its guarantors. They would really like to see this happen because they believe it would open up a new space to pressure Serbia, as once the CSM is formed, they could push for Serbia to agree to Kosovo's membership in international organizations," Gogic explained.

Commenting on the statements by German Ambassador Jorn Rohde and US Special Envoy Gabriel Escobar that it would be sufficient for Pristina to submit the draft statute to the Constitutional Court, Gogic said that the CSM is undoubtedly a condition for Kosovo and that this proposal was the minimum requirement for membership in the Council of Europe.

"This was the bare minimum, that Kosovo does not have to form the CSM, nor can it do so in the short term, but that before joining the Council of Europe, it should submit the statute to the Constitutional Court for review. There is no doubt that the CSM is an obligation Kosovo has, as confirmed by the agreements from 2013 and 2015. Even the Constitutional Court has stated that the CSM is Kosovo's obligation. In that sense, there is no question that the West would like to see the CSM formed, but they may see no room to insist on it right now and are thus trying to gradually push Pristina to make concessions," Gogic added.

He reminds that one of the conditions for Kosovo before the spring session of the Council of Europe was to return land to the Visoki Decani Monastery.

"At the time, Kosovo was told that this was the only condition, but once it fulfilled that, they were told the CSM statute had to be submitted to the Constitutional Court. This might be the tactic they are using, to gradually lead Kosovo toward fulfilling this obligation. For instance, first, submit the statute, and then once the Constitutional Court gives its opinion and confirms that the CSM must be formed, that would then be the next step," Gogic assessed.

The analyst has no doubt that the CSM will continue to be a condition for Pristina's membership in the Council of Europe.

"This condition has already been set by key European countries, and it will certainly remain a condition within the context of the Council of Europe. That is the bare minimum, that the draft statute be sent to the Constitutional Court for review. In that sense, there will be no change in stance regarding the Council of Europe. Of course, Western Europe and the Quint countries will continue to insist on the CSM as part of a comprehensive agreement package. But they cannot enforce compliance with any other agreement, so linking everything to the CSM is pointless when none of the other agreements are being respected," Gogic concluded.