Spanish Parliament Rejects Recognition of Kosovo, 25 Votes For, 293 Against

(Patria) - The Spanish Parliament rejected the initiative to recognize Kosovo's independence with 25 votes in favor, 293 against, and 27 abstentions, reports RSE.

The initiative was presented to the Spanish Parliament by the Together for Catalonia party, led by Carles Puigdemont, and a parliamentary debate on it was held a few days ago.

In a letter submitted by the party to the parliament, the decision of the International Court of Justice in 2010, which ruled that Kosovo's declaration of independence was not contrary to international law, is mentioned.

The proposal by Puigdemont's party states that Spain's refusal to recognize a state that has exercised its legitimate right to self-determination is an obstacle to the European policy of integrating the Western Balkans into the EU.

"And this refusal is a destabilizing factor in these areas, in a context marked by the war in Ukraine, which this part of Europe experiences with particular fear," the proposal states.

It is considered that the main reason for non-recognition is linked to Spain's stance on the aspirations of its northeastern region, Catalonia, to become independent.

That region has had several unsuccessful attempts to secede from Spain, and official Madrid has strongly opposed such moves.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, almost a decade after the end of the war and the withdrawal of Serbian forces.

In 2010, the International Court of Justice concluded that Kosovo's independence "is not in contradiction with international law".

More than 100 countries that recognized Kosovo made that decision in the year of its declaration of independence – 2008.

Among the Western Balkan countries, besides Serbia, Kosovo is also not recognized by Bosnia and Herzegovina. Among EU countries, Greece, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, and Cyprus do not recognize it.

The last recognition Kosovo received was from Israel in February 2021. However, that recognition was part of the Washington Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia on the normalization of economic relations, signed on September 4, 2020, in the presence of then-US President Donald Trump.

Since 2011, under the auspices of the EU, Kosovo has been conducting dialogue with Serbia on the normalization of relations. The US also supports this process.