This Policy Paper aims to highlight the challenges faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) owned or managed by members of minority communities and vulnerable and marginalised groups (VMGs) in Kosovo, as well as to provide recommendations for their effective integration into the larger Kosovar business environment.

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the European Action Week Against Racism (16-24 March 2013), the European Centre for Minority Issues Kosovo (ECMI Kosovo) would like to reiterate its strong commitment to establishing a tolerant, pluralistic, multi-ethnic Kosovo, and call upon all relevant stakeholders to increase their efforts to put an end to the persistent problem of discrimination in Kosovo society.

Throughout 2011 and 2012, ECMI Kosovo has advocated against the segregated education of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children in Kosovo’s education system. On Wednesday 16 January 2013, this resulted in a lawsuit being submitted on behalf of eight parents of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children who were placed – by the ‘Mustafa Bakija’ school in Gjakovë/Ðakovica – in a segregated first grade class separate from their Albanian peers. This information bulletin sets out all actions taken by ECMIKosovo leading up to the submission of the lawsuit.

“ECMI Kosovo would like to announce that today, on 16 January 2013, a lawsuit was submitted against the Directorate of Education of the Municipality of Gjakovë/Ðakovica, in response to the discriminatory practice taking place in the ‘Mustafa Bakija’ primary school where Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children have been placed in a segregated class separate from their Albanian peers. ECMI Kosovo has for a long time worked to stop and prevent the segregation of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian children in Kosovo and has closely supported this lawsuit as part its project ‘Enhancing the Positive Impact of the Law for Vulnerable and Marginalised Groups (VMGs) in Kosovo’, funded by the European Union and managed by the European Union Office in Kosovo.”

ECMI Kosovo strongly condemns the desecration of a number of Orthodox graveyards that took place between Sunday 20 January and Monday 21 January.

On 31 January 2013, The European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) Kosovo organised a Conference in

Prishtinë/Priština to present its report on ‘Socioeconomic Condi_ons in Northern Kosovo’.

This report is based on a questionnaire administered to 721 respondents in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North,

Leposavić/Leposaviq, Zubin Potok and Zvečan/Zveqan to identify the population’s perceptions, needs

and concerns on the following socioeconomic issues: Healthcare, Education, Social Welfare and

Employment.