Over the course of the implementation of the project Empowering Civil Society to Participate Effectively in Policy and Decision-Making Processes through Dialogue with Government Institutions, funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo, ECMI Kosovo, and with its partners Communication with Social Development (CSD) and Network of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian Womens’ Organisation of Kosovo(NRAEWOK), supported the establishment of the GORA Community Network. The establishment of the GORA Community Network aims to foster a link between various CSOs from the region, and better advocate for their respective local government structures.

There are alarming reports from all over Kosovo of a steep increase of illegal emigrations out of Kosovo towards western countries during recent months. A large number of individuals and even entire families are reported to have migrated to western countries through illegal routes. Although Kosovo Albanians are also said to have been leaving Kosovo for Western Europe, Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian minority communities are particularly affected by this trend. These three communities are some of Kosovo’s most vulnerable, and the growing number of individuals and families leaving Kosovo represents a worrying trend that needs to be tackled immediately by Kosovo’s relevant institutions. This report brings together some statistical findings on the recent emigration wave, as well as the reported reasons for emigration and the emigration routes, in order to make short and long-term recommendations to the Kosovo government.

ECMI Kosovo has become aware of several incidents involving minority communities, most of which are clearly ethnically motivated. The incidents include damage to private property and stone-throwing at homes owned by Kosovo Serbs. ECMI Kosovo would like to take the opportunity to condemn them and call on the police authorities to investigate these incidents and, where appropriate, apprehend their perpetrators.

As a result of the stalemate over the election of the parliament Speaker, Kosovo remains with an acting government and many issues and challenges are left open. There are a number of pressing issues pertaining to minority communities that await full treatment by a new government. Minority communities political representatives in the Parliament recently attempted to involve the President of Kosovo to have the Constitutional Court re-interpret some parts of its decision. For these and more please read in the full document:

On September 4th, the mayor of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, Goran Rakić, announced that the Kosovo police and EULEX had informed him of an assassination plot directed at him. The police allegedly have arrested one member of the Kosovo Albanian community involved in the plot. There is now a police car stationed outside the house of the mayor. Mayor Rakić stated that he has full confidence in the Kosovo police to properly handle the situation.

While the Constitutional Court’s decision on the legality of the procedures followed in the constitution session of the Assembly of Kosovo is pending, there are uncertainties about the establishment of a government, and with the looming prospects for new elections still ongoing, one thing is certain: the parliamentary elections of June 8th were held in free and fair conditions, they generated major changes in Kosovo’s political landscape, and, with that, it has brought the composition, and role, of minority political parties to the forefront of Kosovo political and institutional life for years to come.