Fields of work

Elections with big stakes

New Social Initiative (NSI) held a discussion on February 8, 2024, which brought together Kosovo Albanian and Serb CSO activists and analysts, in Gracanica. The main focus of the discussion was on the elections that are going to be held in Kosovo, and how that will affect the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. The discussion provided a platform for all participants to express their viewpoints and opinions on the matter.

⁨Aleksandar Šljuka⁩ summarized the conclusions that arose from the discussion. The publication is available only in English.

Analiza Procesuiranja Napada na Pripadnike Manjinskih Zajednica u Srbiji i Kosovu Tokom 2023. Godine u Kontekstu Dijaloga Beograda i Pristine

U saradnji sa Inicijativom mladih za ljudska prava iz Srbije, a u okviru projekta Radne grupe za poglavlje 35 Nacionalnog konventa o Evropskoj uniji, sačinili smo analizu napada na pripadnike manjinskih zajednica u Srbiji i na Kosovu u 2023. godini. U cilju sveobuhvatnog pristupa, u radu je primenjena tipologija nasilja koju je razvio norveški sociolog Johan Galtunga koja sadrži kategorije direktnog, strukturnog/institucionalnog i kulturnog nasilja.

Citizens’ Dialogue – Key findings and recommendations

Citizens’ Dialogue – Key findings and recommendations

This document presents key findings and recommendations from the Citizens’ Dialogue on Disinformation held in Pristina in November this year as part of the project “From Fake to Check” A Citizens’ Dialogue on Disinformation in the Western Balkans.

The report includes insights gathered during the dialogue, addressing topics such as awareness of the dangers of disinformation without adequate means to combat it, the erosion of media independence, and the collective concerns expressed by participants.

At the end of the report, there are recommendations derived from the insights gained during the event.

From Fake to Check (FFTC) is an innovative project led by Missions Publiques in collaboration with four partners of the Western Balkans region – New Social Initiative (NSI) in Kosovo, Civic Initiatives in Serbia, Institute for Democracy, Media and Culture (IDMC) from Albania, and ZIP Institute from North Macedonia. This project is funded by the German Foreign Federal Office. The initiative supports the Office’s commitment to fight against disinformation threats as well as its strategic support of the Western Balkans in the light of their EU accession process.

Local Elections in North Mitrovica, Zvečan/Zveçan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavić/Leposaviç

Local Elections in North Mitrovica, Zvečan/Zveçan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavić/Leposaviç

This document is a part of the latest effort of the Kosovo CSO to compensate the lack of social dialogue through New Civic Initiative on Dialogue.

The ongoing political stalemate between Kosovo and Serbia, marked by a lack of willingness to compromise on key issues, poses a significant threat to regional stability. In response, a commendable civic initiative seeks to establish a platform for inclusive and structured dialogue among diverse communities in Kosovo. By ensuring representation from Kosovo Albanians, Kosovo Serbs, and other minorities, and employing neutral facilitators, the initiative aims to address specific issues such as the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb Majority Municipalities and the integration of the Kosovo Serb community. Focusing on fact-based discussions, policy proposals, and international support, this effort strives to break the current deadlock and foster a long-term commitment to peaceful dialogue, emphasizing the importance of non-violence and public awareness campaigns to garner support for a comprehensive agreement.

#KPDS2 Booklet

Presence of special units of the Kosovo Police in the Serb-majority North

More than a year has passed since the Government of Kosovo started the action of permanently deploying special units of the Kosovo Police in Serb-majority municipalities in the North. While for the Prime Minister Albin Kurti this decision represented a step towards establishing law and order in this region, for the local Serb population the presence of these units will become a source of fear and insecurity. The unprofessional behavior of the members of these formations, but also the fact that the nature of their presence is illegal, caused this to be one of the key reasons for Serbs from the North to resign from all the local Kosovo institutions in which they had been integrated until then. After this, and under the pretext of the departure of Serbs from the Kosovo Police, the presence of these units increased further, and together with that, the number of incidents between them and the local Serb population aslo increased. The situation culminated after the extraordinary local elections, which were boycotted by Serb representatives and in which ethnic Albanians were elected mayors in Serb-majority municipalities. In order to allow the newly elected mayors access to the municipal buildings, against which the Serbs protested, the members of the special units entered into conflict with the Serbs from the North for the first time, after more than 10 years. Since then, the crisis has deepened even more, relations are at a record low level, and a solution to the problem is not in sight. How did it even come to this? What impact did the decision to deploy special units have on broader socio-political processes? Can we move forward, and how?

Fostering Public Trust: A new blueprint for rule of law mission in Kosovo

This policy paper delves into the intricate role played by internationalized justice mechanisms in the context of Kosovo and their influence on the broader aspects of the rule of law and public trust within the country’s judiciary. The aftermath of the Kosovo conflict in the late 1990s witnessed the establishment of several international actors aimed at addressing critical issues such as impunity, the administration of justice, and the promotion of reconciliation. Prominent among these mechanisms are the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and lastly Kosovo’s Specialist Chambers (KSC).

his policy paper contributes valuable insights into the intricate dynamics that have evolved within Kosovo’s legal landscape. Furthermore, it sheds ‘light’ on the complex interplay between international interventions, the domestic rule of law, media discourse, and public confidence in the judiciary, offering a comprehensive perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by Kosovo’s evolving justice system.

Unlocking Peace: The Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue and the Untapped Potential of Women’s Inclusion

More than a decade ago, on March 8, 2011, a historic meeting took place, marking the beginning of a challenging journey towards potential reconciliation and full normalization of relations between the former warring parties, Kosovo and Serbia. The inaugural meeting that initiated the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia convened with Edita Tahiri representing Kosovo’s delegation, Borko Stefanovic representing Serbia’s delegation, and Robert Cooper from the EU.

This meeting signaled potential commitment to work together to alleviate the burdens of the past and pave the way for a peaceful future with good neighborly relations. The Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue has been facilitated by the European Union (EU) with the aim to address the complex relationship between Kosovo and Serbia – taking place under the premise of eventual EU integration for both countries. While dialogue is broadly acknowledged as the primary process for resolving the Kosovo-Serbia dispute, the process itself has been subject to extensive criticism. These criticisms include concerns over the lack of tangible progress, imbalances in negotiating power, issues related to transparency, recurring impasses, the perceived ineffectiveness of mediation efforts, and the limited participation of grassroots voices. Notably, the absence of an inclusive approach that adequately

Shifting Tides: Understanding the Evolving Topics of Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue and their Implications for Reconciliation

The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia began in March 2011 when Kosovo’s Chief Negotiator Edita Tahiri and the then-leader of the Serbian delegation Borko Stefanovic sat down for the first time at an EU-facilitated meeting. This initial stage of the dialogue or the technical dialogue focused on practical issues affecting people’s lives such as freedom of movement, civil registry, and customs. With the signing of the First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalisation of Relations in April 2013 or the ‘Brussels Agreement’, the nature of the dialogue shifted to include more substantial topics, including energy, telecommunications, and the establishment of an Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo (ASM/CSM). This agreement also included issues of integration of Justice, Police and Civil Protection-Serb parallel structures (in northern municipalities) into the system of Kosovo and the holding of Local Elections in the four northern municipalities (Leposavić/Leposaviq, Zubin Potok, North Mitrovicë/a and Zvečan/ Zveçan) under the jurisdiction of Kosovo. Between 2016 and 2018, dialogue efforts focused on addressing the challenges in the implementation of agreements reached in the previous stages, especially regarding the establishment of the (ASM/CSM) which raised political and constitutional issues within Kosovo. From 2019 to 2020, with new political leadership in both Kosovo and Serbia, the dialogue witnessed a recalibration. Discussions focused on economic normalization, with talks about direct flights, rail links, and other economic cooperation, culminating with the signing of the ’Washington Agreement’ facilitated by the United States. In the more recent years, the dialogue has addressed the painful issue of missing persons from the conflicts in the 1990s, aiming to provide closure to affected families.

Language as a (way of crossing the) barrier between two communities

This policy paper addresses the language barrier between Albanian and Serbian communities in Kosovo, which hinders effective communication, understanding as well as social cohesion and interaction. Efforts have been made to promote bilingualism in Kosovo through the “Law on the Use of Language” that made both languages official. However, its implementation faces challenges, and the Office of the Language Commissioner lacks sufficient power and competencies to enforce the law effectively. Albanian and Serbian language belong to different language families, which further complicates the problem. While other ethnic groups can serve as key players in promoting bilingualism, Serbian and Albanian communities face pressures and obstacles regarding language learning, because of wider political context and lack of reconciliation.

Potential solutions to address the language barrier include providing economic incentive for bilingual individuals in government and public institutions, promoting cultural exchanges on university level to encourage language learning, and better promoting of multiculturalism and multilingualism in the public sphere. Additionally, organizing summer schools or camps for children, teenagers and young adults to interact and learn each other’s languages could foster understanding. Ultimately, fostering bilingualism and better language proficiency and understanding can lead to improved social cohesion, better communication, and reduced tensions between communities.