NATO assembly elevates Kosovo’s status to associate member

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly concludes its spring session in Sofia, Bulgaria, where Kosovo’s status is upgraded from an observer to an associate member, despite Serbian protests

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly concluded its spring session in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, where significant developments regarding Kosovo’s status were addressed.

Despite Serbia’s protests, Kosovo’s status within the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has been upgraded.

On May 27, Kosovan Member of Parliament Driton Hyseni announced that the NATO Parliamentary Assembly approved a recommendation to elevate Kosovo from an observer member to an associate member.

This decision, taken during the session in Sofia, saw a majority of member countries voting in favor, with only one vote against and 14 abstentions.

With the new status, Kosovo gained certain privileges, such as presenting resolutions and amendments, serving as special associate rapporteurs in committees, and contributing to NATO Parliamentary Assembly reports.

However, associate members do not have voting rights on reports, resolutions or leadership decisions, nor do they contribute to the Assembly’s budget. Currently, nine countries, including Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, hold associate member status.

Following the decision, Hyseni expressed his gratitude on social media, highlighting it as the result of many years of cooperation between the Kosovo parliament and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Hyseni, who leads Kosovo’s delegation in the Assembly, acknowledged the persistent efforts and challenges faced, particularly from the Serbian delegation and other political actors in Belgrade, since Kosovo has been represented as an observer delegation since June 2014.

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly, distinct from NATO but essential for linking NATO with member countries’ parliaments, includes 281 delegates from all 32 NATO members.

‘Dangerous precedent’

The Serbian parliament’s delegation had recently requested the Assembly to refrain from advancing Kosovo’s status, but the majority decision overruled this request.

In March, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also opposed Kosovo’s attempts to join the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

The Serbian delegation condemned the decision to grant Kosovo associate membership, labeling it a “dangerous precedent” that could deteriorate the living conditions of Serbs in Kosovo, as reported by Serbian state news agency Tanjug on May 27.

The delegation’s statement expressed concerns that this decision might embolden Pristina to disregard previously reached agreements, especially the establishment of the Association of Serbian Municipalities, a planned inter-municipal association of ethnic Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo.