The European Union has urged Kosovo to adopt the Draft Law on Freedom of Religion, which is expected to define the status of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
EU spokesperson Anitta Hipper, during today’s press conference, stated that the adoption of this law in the Kosovo Assembly is in the interest of all communities in Kosovo when asked about the status of the Serbian Church.
“And regarding the draft law on the Serbian Orthodox Church, we call for the adoption of the Law on Freedom of Religion. This law is in the interest of all communities, and we urge Members of Parliament to support its adoption,” she said.
Kosovo and Serbia agreed in the Ohrid Agreement that both sides would formalize the status of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
“The parties will formalize the status of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo and will provide a strong level of protection for Serbian religious and cultural heritage sites, in accordance with existing European models,” states Article 7 of the February 27, 2023, agreement.
In March 2023, Parliament Speaker Glauk Konjufca commented on the matter, stating that the Serbian Orthodox Church could not have a special status.
He emphasized that Kosovo, as a secular state, maintains “equal distance from all religious communities in Kosovo,” including the Orthodox one.
“It is not equal to all. The Orthodox Church cannot now request a special status in the state of Kosovo, where we sign it,” Konjufca said.
However, he added that “the status will be defined as it is currently missing.”
