Stano: Establishing the CSM is an obligation Kosovo must fulfill

EU Spokesperson Peter Stano stated that the Community of Serb Municipalities is an obligation that Kosovo must fulfill, Gazeta Express reports.

“The EU wishes to remind that establishing the CSM is an unfulfilled obligation for Kosovo, originating from the 2013 Dialogue Agreement, the only dialogue agreement ratified by the Kosovo Assembly with a two-thirds majority. Therefore, it is a clear legal obligation for Kosovo under international law. Unfortunately, since 2013, Kosovo has not taken the necessary steps toward establishing the CSM, and consequently, has not enhanced the protection of rights for members of non-majority communities,” Stano stated.

Stano reminded that according to the 2013 and 2015 agreements, a statute for establishing the CSM should be drafted and discussed within the dialogue. This, he explained, means that any proposal must be discussed with Serbia and the EU mediator and must align with the 2013 and 2015 agreements.

“In October 2023, in an effort to advance the normalization process, the EU – with the support of its member states and partners such as the United States – presented a draft European statute for the creation of the CSM based on European models and best practices, which both parties have accepted in principle. In its December 2023 conclusions, the European Council welcomed the readiness of Serbia and Kosovo to accept the draft statute presented to them by the EU envoy. This document has been formally acknowledged by all 27 EU member states,” Stano said.

The EU has called on Kosovo to proceed with establishing the CSM in line with the EU’s Draft Statute without further delay.

“The EU also wishes to remind that the Agreement on the Path to Normalization is fully valid and legally binding for both Kosovo and Serbia. Serbia is expected to fulfill its obligations under the Path to Normalization Agreement, while Kosovo is expected to move forward with establishing the Association based on the European Draft Statute, following the implementation plan proposed by the EU Facilitator,” Stano said.

Kosovo Government Spokesperson Perparim Kryeziu previously stated that the European Draft Statute is an unsigned document, like many other proposals.

“We remind that the EU’s draft statute does not bear the signature of either EU High Representative Josep Borrell or envoy Miroslav Lajcak, let alone Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The status of the draft statute is a non-paper, one of several proposals put forward over the years,” Kryeziu said.