Kosovo should be allowed to move forward with membership in the Council of Europe, said UK representative John Howell, at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of this international organization. In a debate held at the initiative of the UK at the headquarters of the Council of Europe, Howell requested that the issue of Kosovo’s membership be separated from the progress in Kosovo’s dialogue with Serbia, which is mediated by the European Union.

“Kosovo should not be held hostage about progress in the dialogue led by the EU. We must show that the Council of Europe is separate from the European Union and that it has its values and principles based on which decisions are made,” said Howell in his speech.

During the session, Albania, North Macedonia, and Croatia supported Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe, while Serbia called on the members to reject Kosovo’s request.