Rohde: CSM is a type of autonomy that does not threaten the sovereignty of Kosovo

German Ambassador to Kosovo Jorn Rohde said that the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities was an obligation of Kosovo and added that it would not be the new Republika Srpska. Rohde emphasized that the CSM was a type of autonomy that did not threaten the integrity and sovereignty of Kosovo and added that a German non-governmental organization had proposed the formation of the CSM that was in accordance with the decision of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo from 2015, Koha reports.

"A German non-governmental organization, together with the European Institute of Peace, recently published a proposal for the CSM, which is clearly designed to be in accordance with the ruling of the Constitutional Court from 2015, which foresees some competencies in the field of health and education. And it is all in accordance with the laws of Kosovo. It is a kind of autonomy, in some spheres, that does not threaten the territorial integrity or sovereignty of Kosovo. And, it improves the current situation of parallel structures, which are not always under the control of the Government of Kosovo, and then you have a structure that is fully in line with Kosovo regulations. Where is the problem here? Our whole discussion here is to fulfill previous agreements, in search of innovative solutions," Rohde said to KTV.

He mentioned the case of the Community of Danes in Germany as an example.

"In Germany, we have a minority group of Danes. They have their own Community. They have hospitals and everything. They get money from Denmark. And many Germans send their children to their schools, which are better equipped than the German ones," Rohde said.

He emphasized that all the proposals, as well as the Franco-German one, included previously reached agreements, thus also the CSM.

"You saw a European proposal inspired by Germany and France that tried to move things forward. All these proposals include agreements from the past, including the CSM. They provide a way forward for Kosovo and we want, especially Germany, to see that happen. We had visits from Germany, the Summit in Berlin, and now this proposal for the CSM statute, all of these are being pushed by Germany or those are German ideas to bring Kosovo closer to the Euro-Atlantic structures," Rohde said.

He said that the Government of Kosovo could use the Statute on CSM to solve the situation, respecting the Constitution of Kosovo.

"The German non-governmental organization Ebert Foundation, together with the European Institute of Peace, published a tool that the Government of Kosovo can use as an ideological project to resolve the situation while permanently respecting the Constitution of Kosovo," Rohde said.

He added that the CSM was a contractual obligation of Kosovo and that it had to be resolved.

Regarding whether it is realistic to expect an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia in the spring of next year, Rohde stated that 2023 was a decisive year for Kosovo.

"If I had a glass ball, which I don't have, I would know. I hope it will be achieved. What we need is for both main actors, Serbia and Kosovo, to agree on something. We are trying to help as much as we can. We want you in Europe, but you, Serbia, and Kosovo have to do something to move there. We can provide you with advice and tools. This has been a decisive year for Kosovo, the application for membership in the Council of Europe, and the application for membership in the EU; we will have visa liberalization in a year. Applications are still not implemented, but, as the Prime Minister said yesterday: the train had left the station and I invited everyone to get on it and the Government of Kosovo to try to speed up the train with decisions that bring progress," Rohde said.

Regarding the possibility of Kosovo being part of the EU after ten years, Rohde said that it was a hypothetical question.

"We recently had a survey on possible EU membership and at the current pace of reform, it could take between 15 and 55 years. Governments of different countries need to speed up reforms on different issues. So progress is based on merit, and there are tasks that The EU has to do. We have to reform ourselves too. We have to reform the right to vote, six new members, if the right of veto remains in force on some issues, it could cripple the EU," Rohde said.