Illustrative photo from open sources
At a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the absolute majority of deputies supported Kosovo's entry into the organization. Thus, the country has become closer to breaking the blockade regarding its membership in international organizations.
171 deputies voted for Kosovo’s accession to the Council of Europe, against – 131, another 29 abstained. The PACE hall greeted the decision with applause, Reuters reports.
This vote does not complete the procedure. For Kosovo to become a member of the organization, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CMCE) must vote with a two-thirds vote. However, at the previous voting in the CMSE there was the required number of votes in favor.
It is predicted that the CMCE will make a decision in mid-May.
It is known that a number of Council of Europe states, including Ukraine , do not recognize the independence of Kosovo, while PACE rapporteur Theodora Bakoyanis claims that Kosovo’s membership does not force them to such recognition. Despite these assurances, for Kosovo, membership in the Council of Europe will be a crucial step towards international recognition.
Prepared by: Sergej Daga