In response to the recent disturbances surrounding the removal of the barricade blocking the primary bridge over the Ibër/Ibar River and the establishment of a so-called “peace park” in its place in the city of Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, ECMI Kosovo firmly expresses its continued commitment to peaceful reconciliation. ECMI Kosovo has been engaged in human and minority rights in Kosovo for the past 15 years and remains dedicated to fostering an inclusive and stable multi-ethnic society in Kosovo. The organization’s presence in northern Kosovo has grown significantly in recent years, particularly with the establishment of an ECMI Kosovo office in North Mitrovicë/Mitrovica in 2012. Thus, ECMI Kosovo is heavily invested in this issue and remains determined to strive for the peaceful integration of all communities in Kosovo. Notable progress has been made in the last year in terms of building a constructive relationship of trust with structures in the North of Kosovo. These important achievements should not be undone by reckless acts and statements from any of the actors involved. The following policy brief presents a concise description and analysis of the events and provides clear recommendations to all stakeholders involved on building a structured dialogue as foreseen in the “Ahtisaari Plan.”

On June 8th, Kosovo is set to hold parliamentary elections after the Assembly of Kosovo voted to disband itself, amid political gridlock and an unstable ruling coalition. These come shortly after Kosovo held local elections in 2013, which brought about notable political change — especially in the larger cities — and are the first parliamentary elections where it is expected that the Serbs living north of the Ibër/Ibar river will vote in significant numbers, much like they did in the 2013 local elections. These elections are significant for a variety of reasons, not least for the fact that the Serb community will be running under a single unified list, the expected high turnout within the Kosovo Serb community, and generally the change that the election may bring on the ruling parties, after almost two terms of PDK led governments. An important change in the way minority communities are represented in the Assembly of Kosovo will take effect in these elections: the reserved seats system will be phased out, in favour of the guaranteed seats system. This switch over is expected to shake-up the minority political scene, as it will introduce a slightly more restrictive allocation of seats for minorities.

The Office of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, through its Communities Consultative Council (CCC), has issued a Public Notice whereby all registered Associations and/or Non-Governmental Organizations representing communities are invited to submit their application for accreditation, a list of candidates for the Council, as well as a list of representatives that will cast their vote for the future members of the Council. In addition, any person belonging to a non-majority community, as well as Members of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, is eligible to submit their application—in writing—to be a candidate for a possible appointment in the Council as a representative of the respective community they belong to.

Civil society in Kosovo is largely fragmented: it is not only often divided along ethnic lines, but there is also frequently a lack of communication and cooperation among Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from the same communities. In view of the particular needs and internal fragmentation of most minority communities in Kosovo, ECMI Kosovo, on behalf of its project “Empowering Civil Society to Participate Effectively in Policy and Decision-making Processes through Dialogue with Government Institutions”, funded by EU and managed by the European Union Office in Kosovo,1 aimed to foster the establishment of minority CSO networks with the ultimate goal of enabling them to advocate for their specific needs and interests while united through one voice.

ECMI Kosovo has conducted previous research on substance abuse and treatment options, particularly regarding the situation in northern Kosovo. The findings suggest a serious marginalization of drug addicts, most likely stemming from the highly negative social perceptions about this type of substance abuse. International reports, as well as a general local consensus, suggest that narcotics are a common problem throughout Kosovo, particularly in the north. Stakeholders who met with ECMI also highlighted a lack of addiction rehabilitation facilities as a weakness in current healthcare.

There is not an agreed definition on international law on what or who constitutes a minority. However, in democratic theory and positive law three categories of minorities are recognized: indigenous groups who were once hegemonic in their territory and who were displaced by the current state or its predecessor, other long-standing “national minority” groups who have long co-existed within the state, and new immigrant groups. This is not an exhaustive category list, because in some states some groups, like Roma, might not find their place within it.