The Catalan party of Mr. Carles Puigdemont, “Junts per Catalunya” (Together for Catalonia), has submitted a proposal to the Spanish Parliament, requesting that the Spanish government recognize Kosovo’s independence.
Spain is one of five European Union member states, along with Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia, and Romania, that do not recognize Kosovo’s independence, declared on February 17, 2008, with the support of the United States and major European countries, while being opposed by Serbia and its ally Russia.
Junts Party’s Proposal to the Spanish Government
The Junts party, which is not part of the Spanish government but whose votes are crucial for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government, emphasizes in its proposal that Kosovo is a state recognized by 104 out of 193 United Nations member states and 22 EU member states. The proposal also mentions the International Court of Justice’s decision in July 2010, which stated that Kosovo’s declaration of independence does not violate international law.
“Spain’s refusal to recognize a state that exercised its legitimate right to self-determination is an obstacle to the EU’s policy of integrating the Western Balkans into the European Union, and this refusal is a destabilizing factor in this region in a context marked by the war in Ukraine, which this part of Europe experiences with particular anxiety. In this sense, it is unacceptable for the Spanish state to share the same strategy as Russia, China, or Belarus by refusing to recognize Kosovo,” the proposal states.
The Junts party also notes that since January of this year, Spain has recognized Kosovo passports, allowing its citizens to travel visa-free within the Schengen zone.
The proposal emphasizes that recognition of Kosovo by the five non-recognizing EU states would enable its progress in the integration process, while expressing concern that some member states are using institutional tools to complicate the region’s integration process, including Kosovo.
“For these reasons and in support of the efforts made by the institutions and citizens of Kosovo in defending their right to exist as an independent state, the Spanish state should abandon its refusal and proceed with the immediate recognition of the Republic of Kosovo,” the proposal states, which was published a few days after Spain decided to recognize the statehood of Palestine.
It is unclear what impact such a proposal might have on the Spanish government’s rigid stance, considering that Madrid faces Catalonia’s efforts for independence from Spain.
The Junts party used its votes for Prime Minister Sanchez’s government to secure a controversial law that amnesties hundreds of Catalans involved in the 2017 Catalan independence attempt.