The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recently adopted a document titled “Functioning of democratic institutions in Serbia.” This official report, authored by correspondents Victoria Tiblom of Sweden and Yunus Emre of Turkey, places significant emphasis on the necessity of normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo for the country’s advancement toward European Union membership. The findings within the report highlight that a key impediment to Serbia’s integration remains the unresolved status of Kosovo. Specifically, the document notes that Serbia continues to maintain its non-recognition of Kosovo’s independence, making the full normalization of bilateral ties a central prerequisite for its potential EU membership.
The Assembly stated that “The normalization of Serbia’s relations with Kosovo, whose independence Serbia does not recognize, remains a serious issue and is also decisive for the country’s membership in the European Union.”
Furthermore, the report addressed recent regional tensions, specifically referencing the events that took place in Banjska in September 2023, and conveyed a degree of concern regarding the stability of the situation. Overall, the adoption of this comprehensive report signals the Assembly’s focus on institutional benchmarks, framing the diplomatic normalization process as a critical measure for Serbia to meet its stated objectives within the European framework.
Topics: #serbia #report #normalization
