Kosovo's admission to the Council of Europe/ Spain will vote against

2024-04-13 17:30:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The representatives of the Spanish parties, the Socialist Party of Spanish Workers and the People's Party in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will vote next Tuesday against Kosovo's membership in this organization.

The body consists of 46 states. The five socialist parliamentarians and 3 others from the PP will reject the admission of Kosovo.

"We will vote against because we continue to maintain the same criteria", a source told "Europa Press", referring to Spain's position on not recognizing Kosovo's independence.

This party considers that now is not the time for Kosovo's entry into this organization because it could "discover spaces for confrontation". Among the 46 member states of the Council of Europe, there are some that do not recognize Kosovo, including Spain.

Even the PP, according to "Europa Press", has not changed its position regarding the independence of Kosovo. Sources within the PP have confirmed to the Spanish media that they will vote against because "it is not a good precedent" for this "territory" to become a member of the Council of Europe.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will hold a debate next Tuesday where it will be decided whether the decision on Kosovo's membership will be referred to the Committee of Ministers. This is the organization's highest body, which will meet in May in Reykjavik. It was precisely this institution that asked PACE a year ago to give an opinion on this matter.

According to "Europa Press", the opposition from the eight Spanish representatives should not present a problem for Kosovo. There is a vast majority of countries that recognize Kosovo and will vote for it.

It is not expected to be a problem in the Committee of Ministers either, where a two-thirds vote is needed - Russia was excluded after Ukraine's inauguration - which is 31 seats.

Diplomatic sources have explained to "Europa Press" that even the Spanish foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, will vote against./ CNA