In the aftermath of Kosovo’s exclusion from the Council of Ministers’ agenda for membership in the Council of Europe, the ambassadors of Germany and France to Kosovo have reiterated their strong support for Kosovo’s European path—but with clear expectations.
Speaking on Rubikon for Klan Kosova, German Ambassador Jorn Rohde stressed that the message from Berlin and Paris was delivered as early as last year: Kosovo must take concrete steps, especially by submitting the draft statute for the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities to the Constitutional Court.
“We’ve made our position clear: we want Kosovo in the Council of Europe as soon as possible. But this depends on steps Kosovo must take, as outlined in the letter from President Macron, Chancellor Scholz, and Prime Minister Meloni. The ball is in Kosovo’s court—send the draft to the Constitutional Court,” Rohde emphasized.
No Progress Without Action
Rohde underlined that without this key condition being met, Kosovo’s progress toward membership cannot advance.
“Without fulfilling this condition, there can be no movement forward. Submit the draft to your institution to verify if it aligns with your Constitution. Nothing has happened so far, and if this continues, different results cannot be expected. Inaction is not a solution,” he stated.
France Aligns With Germany: Association Is Not a Threat
French Ambassador Olivier Guerot echoed Rohde’s stance, clarifying that France’s position mirrors that of Germany. He stressed that the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities does not pose a threat to Kosovo’s sovereignty.
“The Association has been debated for years. We understand the concerns in Kosovo about a potential ‘new Republika Srpska’, but this comparison is unfounded,” Guerot said.
He further clarified that the EU-drafted statute does not grant the Association the kind of powers seen in Bosnia’s Serb entity.
“Republika Srpska has its own police and legislative authority—the Association will not have these. Republika Srpska is part of Bosnia’s Constitution—the Association will be within Kosovo’s constitutional framework. These are two entirely different concepts,” Guerot concluded.
