Spain, the biggest of the five EU states not to have recognised Kosovo, announced it respects the UN judges ruling that its secession was legal, but refused to say how this could impact its policy.

“Madrid respects the court ruling,” a foreign ministry spokesperson said.

The spokesperson however would not be drawn on whether it would lead Spain to reconsider its decision on non-recognition.

Spain is one of the countries most uneasy about Kosovo’s UDI as it is itself dealing with unresolved separatist conflicts or potential conflicts. Not surprisingly the news that the top UN judges have ruled that Kosovo secession in 2008 had not broken international law was welcomed by Spain's Basque nationalist PNV party.

"I think that the main consequence is that Spain cannot keep saying that the international rules don't allow for a split of the country for a new Basque independent country into the European Union. So I think that should be already over and that's good news for us," said Aitor Estaban, an MP from PNV party.