European Commission spokesperson Christian Wigand today reiterated the European Union’s position on amendments to the law governing the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, stating that the changes conflict with Kosovo’s international obligations.
Wigand was asked about the perceived “paradox” of both the Specialist Chambers’ Constitutional Court and Kosovo’s Constitutional Court in Pristina potentially interpreting the law.
In his question to the EU, the journalist requested a legal explanation of the respective roles of Kosovo’s Constitutional Court and the court operating within the Specialist Chambers in The Hague.
“In other words, we would have two bodies interpreting our Constitution,” the journalist said.
Wigand responded that he would limit his answer to the European Union’s political position on the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, adding that the relevant team could provide a more detailed response on the legal aspects.
“We would be willing to consider whether, if you contact our team for a slightly more detailed background discussion, there is anything more we can say regarding the legal aspects you are raising. But I think our position on the Specialist Chambers is very clear,” Wigand said.
“The European Union has consistently supported the work of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers as an independent judicial institution, established through decisions of the Kosovo Assembly in 2014–2015, operating within Kosovo’s legal system and guaranteed by Kosovo’s Constitution,” he added.
Wigand also reiterated the EU’s previously published statement on the amendments.
“Of course, the law adopted by the Kosovo Assembly, which amends and supplements the existing law, conflicts with Kosovo’s international obligations towards the European Union,” he said.
The European Union issued a statement after the Kosovo Assembly approved the amendments to the law governing the Specialist Chambers, expressing the same position reiterated by Wigand today.
