President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, Speaker of the Parliament Glauk Konjufca and Prime Minister Aljbin Kurti sent a joint letter to the rapporteur for Kosovo in the Council of Europe, Dora Bakoyanis, in which they promised to implement all measures required of Kosovo, after it becomes part of the Council of Europe, including and the formation of the Union of Municipalities with a Serbian majority (ZSO).
In the letter, a copy of which is in the possession of the Nacionale portal, it is written that Kosovo will faithfully comply with the list of obligations shown in the attachment of the letter.
"In your letter dated March 21, 2024, you gave us 'proposed obligations that Kosovo will have to fulfill when it becomes part of the Council of Europe'. Your correspondence indicates that this list, which requires a response from Kosovo state institutions, forms an integral part of our process application and represents an important step in the process of Kosovo's full membership in the Council of Europe," states the letter signed by the three mentioned leaders.
They informed the rapporteur for Kosovo in the Council of Europe that they will faithfully respect the list of obligations shown in the annexes of the letter.
In the appendix, which is attached to the letter, there are proposals for what Kosovo promises to fulfill after admission to the Council of Europe.
In connection with human rights and the protection of minority communities, the issue of the Brussels Basic Agreement was mentioned, where the establishment of the ZSO is urgently mentioned.
In the letter of the rapporteur for Kosovo in the SE, it is requested that sufficient funds be allocated for the effective implementation of the legislation on the use of languages and ensure legal foundation, independence and provide adequate resources for the Office of the Commissioner for Languages.
It is requested to increase measures to support socio-economic integration and political participation of members of minority communities, to take visible and significant measures to promote reconciliation between communities in Kosovo, including political discourse.
In the list of obligations related to the functioning of democratic institutions and respect for the rule of law, institutional leaders undertake to stop criticizing the judiciary, which was frequent in this convocation.
The issue of expropriation in the north of Kosovo is also mentioned.
"Regarding the functioning of democratic institutions and respect for the rule of law: To fully respect the independence of the judiciary, including refraining from excessive criticism that undermines confidence in the judiciary; To continue the fight against corruption and organized crime; To ensure that expropriations are carried out in strict accordance with the law and to all future laws in this area should be fully aligned with Ahtisaari's plan, including the area of property protection of the Serbian Orthodox Church; that in accordance with the circumstances, the Draft Law on Expropriation of Immovable Property submitted to the Assembly of Kosovo should be amended as soon as possible," it states, among other things, in the attachment that Osmani, Konjufca and Kurti added to the letter for Dora Bakojanis.
In addition, Kosovo's views on the use of special police in the north, the living conditions of the Serbian community and further improvement of the security situation are also attached.
"Urgent measures should be taken to promote the reintegration of Kosovo Serbs into the police force, judiciary and prosecution in northern Kosovo; To refrain from using the special police in northern Kosovo for regular police duties, to ensure that they are engaged in case of need and to reinforce cooperation with Kfor and Eulex," the addendum states.
This week, the rapporteur for Kosovo in the Council of Europe, Dora Bakoyanis, drafted a report for Kosovo's membership in this organization.
In the latest draft, which is available on the National portal, Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe is recommended, and some issues that Kosovo must fulfill after membership are also mentioned.
Last Sunday, Kosovo fulfilled the basic condition for membership in the Council of Europe, implementing the decision of the Constitutional Court on the property of the Dečani Monastery.
The Committee for Politics and Democracy has an extraordinary session on March 27, where the report of Dora Bakoyanis will be considered, for which 26 deputies of this committee must vote.
Then this committee sends the report to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for a vote. In the assembly, two-thirds of the votes are needed to approve the report.
After voting in PSSE, the opinion with a positive decision is sent to the Committee of Ministers, which is held on May 16 and 17 this year.
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