Spahiu: If the CSM is really a condition for membership in the CoE, there may be consequences

Political analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu assesses for Kosovo Online that it is understandable that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti doesn't want conditions regarding Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe and adds that it is still unknown whether the formation of the CSM is indeed a condition.

Spahiu emphasizes that Kurti's wish is for Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe not to be conditioned.

"I think that, of course, when someone wants to join somewhere, they don't want conditions for that membership, that is a normal thing," Spahiu said.

Speaking about whether the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities is a condition for Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe, Spahiu points out that it is unclear whether someone has indeed set that condition.

"We know there was a discussion between Prime Minister Kurti, Macron, and Scholz, but whether they explicitly told him or not, that is not clear to the public. We only know that Kurti said it shouldn't be a condition," Spahiu stated.

And if the condition is indeed set, Spahiu notes that there can be consequences.

"Yes, of course, if they have truly set a condition and Kosovo isn't admitted to the Council of Europe this month, then it is unclear what will happen next year. We lost a case like that seven or eight years ago for joining UNESCO and Interpol, and that second chance didn't come," Spahiu said.