Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Glauk Konjufca, held a series of high-level meetings during his official visit to Strasbourg, focusing on Kosovo’s European integration process and its bid for membership in the Council of Europe.
Konjufca met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, where they discussed Kosovo’s membership process and current challenges. He stated that the institutional process has already been completed, referring to the positive assessment of the Parliamentary Assembly, which confirmed that Kosovo meets all membership criteria.
He stressed that delays are caused by political dynamics outside the organization, expressing concern over their impact on the credibility of processes and on the rights of Kosovo’s citizens. In this context, he reaffirmed Kosovo’s commitment to democratic values, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights.
During his visit, Konjufca also met with Petra Bayr, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, whom he congratulated on her appointment and thanked for her continued support for Kosovo.
He praised the role of the Parliamentary Assembly in the professional handling of Kosovo’s membership application, emphasizing that the technical process has been completed and that there is broad political support within the Assembly, reflected in the 82% vote in favor of Kosovo’s membership. He also reiterated Kosovo’s commitment to further advancing democratic standards and remaining a constructive partner within European institutions.
The meetings in Strasbourg also included discussions with Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, as well as representatives of political groups in the Parliamentary Assembly: Frank Schwabe, President of the Socialist, Democrats and Greens Group (SOC); Iulian Bulai, President of the ALDE Group; and Knut Abraham, Vice President of the EPP and head of the German delegation to PACE.
Further discussions focused on the progress of the membership process and the remaining steps toward final decision-making.
Konjufca also met with Piero Fassino, Chair of the Sub-Committee on the Western Balkans of the Parliamentary Assembly.
During a working breakfast with ambassadors of Council of Europe member states, participants discussed the importance of Kosovo’s membership for its citizens, particularly regarding access to European human rights protection mechanisms.
Konjufca reiterated that membership in the Council of Europe would strengthen human rights protection, increase trust in democratic institutions, and further advance Kosovo on its European path.
