Head of EU Office: Kosovo and Serbia need to make constitutional changes

Gazeta Express

23/10/2020 14:18

After the EU envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, also the Head of the EU Office in Kosovo/EUSR, Tomas Szunyog spoke about constitutional changes in order to pave the way for the signing of the peace agreement between Kosovo and Serbia. 

Szunyog  said that it is up to Kosovo to establish the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, and that both Kosovo and Serbia should make constitutional changes in the future due to the international agreements that they have signed.

He emphasized that the Constitutional Court’s ruling in no way prevents the establishment of the Association.

Szunyog made these comments while addressing the Kosovo Assembly Committee for European Integration.

“As for the Association, I know very well that there is the agreement of 2013, the agreement of 2015, and a decision of the Constitutional Court. And this decision in no way prevents the establishment of the Association, but only sets certain limits that have to do with the 2015 agreement. At the end of the decision it is stated that the status of the Association should be sent back to the Constitutional Court. My question in this case is ‘what is the status?’” said Szunyog.

He stressed that international agreements are legally binding.

“The progress report states that no progress has been made regarding the establishment of the Association,” said Szunyog. “It is up to you to do this. You have signed and ratified these agreements with 2/3 of Assembly votes. So, it is not just an international obligation; it is up to you and no one is forcing you to do something.”

Commenting on the statement of the EU Special Envoy for the Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, who said that Kosovo should change the Constitution to establish the Association, Szunyog said that he does not see this statement as a problem.

He stressed that there have been misinterpretations in the media about this, but that in the future both Kosovo and Serbia should make constitutional changes because of the international agreements they have signed. /GazetaExpress/