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Reply to Recommendation | Doc. 13243 | 24 June 2013
The situation in Kosovo* and the role of the Council of Europe
1. The Committee of Ministers welcomes the
Parliamentary Assembly’s continuing attention to the situation in
Kosovo. It shares the Assembly’s opinion that irrespective of the
status of Kosovo, all the people living there should have a European
perspective and benefit of European standards for democracy, human
rights, the rule of law and good governance.
2. On 12 December 2012, the Committee of Ministers took note
of the Secretary General’s decision regarding direct interaction
of the Council of Europe officials involved in Council of Europe
activities in Kosovo with officials from relevant and competent
authorities in Kosovo based on the principle of “functional capacity”. Such
contacts are now possible on account and within the limits of the
functional responsibilities exercised by the relevant Kosovo officials.
At the same time, such interaction cannot be understood as implying,
in any manner, that the Council of Europe takes any position with
regard to the status of Kosovo.
3. The Committee of Ministers welcomes the enhanced action by
the Secretariat, as decided by the Secretary General, with regard
to Kosovo in the interest of all the people living there. In this
regard, Council of Europe activities aimed at strengthening democracy,
the rule of law, human rights (including minority protection) and
at protecting cultural heritage are of particular interest and value.
The Committee of Ministers encourages the Secretariat to continue
its efforts in helping to enshrine and implement Council of Europe standards
in Kosovo.
4. These developments have led the Secretariat to launch a process
of assessing and updating its co-operation and assistance strategy
to further enhance the Council of Europe action in Kosovo, mainly
regarding the implementation of human rights and rule of law standards.
New projects are under consideration and will be submitted to the
Committee of Ministers, notably in the fields of anti-discrimination,
support to the judiciary, as well as action aimed to support the
fight against trafficking in human beings. As far as the fight against corruption,
money laundering and the financing of terrorism is concerned, a
Joint European Union/Council of Europe Programme against Economic
Crime in Kosovo (PECK) has been implemented since February 2012. In
the area of human rights, a Joint European Union/Council of Europe
Programme on Enhancing Human Rights has been implemented since February
2012. Concerning the situation of the Roma in Kosovo, a Joint European
Union/Council of Europe Programme on support measures in the field
of education to forced returnees and Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian
communities is about to start. At the regional level, a Joint European
Union/Council of Europe Programme on Intercultural mediation for
Roma communities (ROMED) in which Kosovo is involved has been implemented
since 2011 and other regional Joint European Union/Council of Europe
Programmes on CyberCrime; on Rehabilitation of Cultural Heritage
(Ljubljana Process II); on promotion of Human Rights and Minority
Protection; on Inclusive Education are currently running. It should
be also noted that Phase 2 of a Joint Programme “Europe Union/Council
of Europe support to the Promotion of Cultural Diversity in Kosovo
(PDCK II)” began in October 2012.
5. The Committee of Ministers reiterates its position that a
meaningful monitoring process – including the follow-up to the recommendations
made by the monitoring bodies – implies the involvement of the relevant
and competent authorities in Kosovo. In addition to the work of
the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention for the Protection
of National Minorities and the European Committee for the Prevention
of Torture in Kosovo, the Committee of Ministers will look into
possibilities for other Council of Europe monitoring mechanisms
to work in Kosovo.
6. In carrying out its action in Kosovo, the Council of Europe
will continue to closely co-operate with the European Union, the
OSCE and United Nations agencies in view of an enhanced co-ordination.