• Kosovo Assembly to hold extraordinary session to discuss electricity crisis (media) • Haradinaj blames Vetevendosje, Kurti for electricity crisis (media) • Kosovars Protest Against Electricity Cuts, Demand Sackings (BIRN) • Turkish minister to visit Kosovo today (Koha) • Serbian official not permitted entry to Kosovo (Koha) • Borrell: 2021, a year of transitions (RTK) • Russia Is Playing With Fire in the Balkans (FA/Klan) • Kosovo: Guerrillas’ Trials Begin at Hague War Crimes Court (BIRN) • COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media: • PM Kurti on energy situation: There are almost no power cuts (media) • “Government has taken measures; but consequences are inevitable” (Kosovapress) • Haxhiu: Agreement with Denmark; no need for constitutional amendments (EO) • Minxhozi: Kosovo-Albania railroad construction in 2024 (EO) • PAI leader refutes party member: We remain part of government (Gazeta Express) • Ministry: Vaccination remains most effective protection from COVID-19 (media) • COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • Vucic: ''I see I am to blame for the lack of electricity in Kosovo also, but the results are winning'' (Kosovo Online, Tanjug) • Serbian families of the missing uninformed about the Brussels dialogue (KiM radio) • Veljko Odalovic banned from entering Kosovo (Radio Mitrovica sever, RTK2) • Jeremic: Opposition should be ready to defend election results on streets (N1, Beta) • Ambassador Godfrey: America’s goal is same as Serbia’s (N1, Beta, RTS) • Petkovic: Since Kurti came to power, number of incidents against Serbs 50 percent higher (Kosovo Online) • Tombstones in Kisnica village desecrated, condemnations of the act (KiM radio, Kontakt plus radio, gracanicaonline.info) • "Stop Hate Speech" (KiM radio)

• Kurti blames past governments about energy crisis (RTK) • Kosovo reports first cases of COVID-19 Omicron (media) • Citizens warn protests over power outages (euronews.al) • German expert arrives; repair of Kosova B block underway (Koha) • Serbia blocks transit goods, Kosovo still without any action (Kosovapress) • US-sanctioned Serb’s company subcontracts work to Kosovo Albanians (BIRN) • “Easier to decipher Da Vinci Code, than EU position on Open Balkan” (Koha) • Haziri: Serbia is playing a political game in Open Balkan (euronews.al) • BIRN Kosovo Won Prize After Prize in 2021 (BIRN)

Albanian Language Media: • Osmani: Serbia’s militarization reveals Vucic’s objective in Open Balkan (Koha) • Milanovic: Open Balkan, useless if Kosovo is not treated equally (media) • Health Institute: Tests that can detect Omicron expected to arrive today (RFE) Serbian Language Media: • Botsan-Kharchenko: Moscow urges Pristina for normal dialogue with Belgrade (Kosovo-online) • EU Ambassador Giaufret exchanges views with Patriarch Porfirije (N1) • EU: Serbia aligns with policy on Belarus (N1) • Serbia pursuing responsible policy, Vucic tells Austrian ORF (Tanjug) • France and Germany continue to co-operate on an initiative to help Serbia-Kosovo dialogue (RFE) • Covid-19: nine new cases registered in Serbian areas (RTS) Opinion: • The curse of the “Open Balkan” (Koha) • Vucic’s New Pose as Serbia’s ‘Protector’ Shouldn’t Fool Anyone (Balkan Insight) International: • Serbian Minister Faces New Legal Challenge for ‘Insulting Albanians’ (Balkan Insight) • Rio Tinto controversy: Has the EU designated Serbia as a “sacrificial zone” for lithium extraction? (EWB) • Montenegro Close to Choosing Bechtel to Build Adriatic Highway (Balkan Insight) • Hope Fades for Missing Victims of Albania’s Communist Regime (Balkan Insight)

• EU voices support for "Open Balkan” initiative (Koha) • Zulfaj: Four freedoms of the "Open Balkan" embodied in the common regional market (Koha) • Konjufca: This is the "Open Balkan" they're trying to sell to us (media) • RECOM: Unacceptable Conduct of the BIA towards Regional Reconciliation Activists (media) • AJK condemns conduct of Serbian authorities towards journalist, Adriatik Kelmendi (media) • Kelmendi reveals details of his encounter with Serbia’s security authorities (Klan) • Croatian President Milanovic to begin Kosovo visit today (media) • Kosovo Ex-Mayor Suspected of Taking Over €1 Million in Bribes (BIRN) • Kosovo Experts Refute Danish Prison Cell Renting Plan (Exit News) • COVID-19: Twenty new cases, no deaths (media) • Kosovo introduces power cuts due to energy crisis (Reuters) • EBRD extending 4 mln euro loans to Kosovo's KEP Trust (SeeNews) • North Macedonia’s prime minister formally steps down (AP)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 22, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • New German Government supports efforts to strengthen regional cooperation in WB (Expres) • Hungary May Become Kosovo’s Big EU Foe (Prishtina Insight) • Gervalla does not report to the integration committee, due to a trip (media) • Haxhiu on the agreement with Denmark: We have the right to reject any prisoner (Klan) • Court in Serbia legalizes derogatory term for Albanians, says Ragmi Mustafi (Express) • Draft of the Code of Ethics for Assembly proposed after the Musliu-Peci incident (Koha) • COVID-19: Twenty new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • Failure to hold a referendum on changing the Constitution of Serbia in Kosovo is an introduction to the election ban? (Danas) • Vucic receives invitation to attend UN conference taking place in Doha end of January (Kosovo-online) • Serbian List Board in Strpce: Brutal intrusion and intimidation of officials’ families (Radio kontakt plus) • Vujicic and Maric on arrests in Strpce: Continuation of policy of force against Serbs (Kosovo-online) • Trajkovic, Rasic on arrests in Strpce (Radio KIM) • Putin in a greeting card to Vucic: We have outlined new perspectives, I am counting on the continuation of joint work (RTS) • Kosovo police special unit conducted search in Serbian house in Silovo (Kosovo-online) • KiM Office reaction to Kosovo police search in Silovo village (Kosovo Online) • Covid-19: three new cases registered in Serbian areas (Kosovo-online) International: • Handling Segregation: Village School Tries to Tackle Kosovo’s Ethnic Divisions (Balkan Insight) • EU working to amend genocide denial law that is blamed for Bosnia crisis (The Guardian) • Kosovo experts oppose Denmark prison outsourcing (Euractiv)

• Kosovo arrests ten for corruption, including ex-mayor (BIRN) • Svecla: Action in Brezovica did not target specific ethnic groups (media) • Leaders sign new ‘Open Balkan’ agreements in Albania (BIRN) • Rama: Open Balkan will continue even if others refuse to join (euronews.al) • Varhelyi invites Kosovo to join Open Balkan; PM advisor reacts (Telegrafi) • Von Cramon denounces Serbia deregistration of Albanians from civil registry (Exit News) • COVID-19: Nine new cases, no deaths (media) • Kurti receives booster shot, encourages citizens to get vaccinated (euronews.al) • Kosovo film ‘Hive’ shortlisted for Oscars’ international feature (Express)

Albanian Language Media: • Open Balkans invite Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina to join (RTK) • Open Balkans member countries sign five cooperation agreements (RTK) • Varhelyi urges WB countries to return the Common Regional Market initiative (Express) • Ten people arrested, among them former mayor of Shterpce (media) • Qelaj: ERO's decision to pay for electricity in the north is discriminatory (media) • 300 cells foe 210 million euros, complete agreement document (RTK) • COVID-19: Nine new cases, no deaths (media) • Albania, Kosovo sign agreement to use joint ABC textbook in schools (Express) Serbian Language Media: • Covid-19: 12 new cases registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM) • Vucic on possible participation of Pristina in “Open Balkans” initiative (Kosovo-online) • Varhelyi: Any regional cooperation based on EU values is welcome and useful (NMagazin, Beta) • Protest in Tirana against ‘Open Balkan’ Initiative (KoSSev) • Serbian PM says protest in Tirana had support from Belgrade (FoNet, N1) • Reactions on setting Serbian flags on fire in Tirana (media) • Ten persons arrested in Strpce, including former mayor; Petkovic reacts (RTS) • Serbian List: We condemn brutal demonstration of force in Strpce (Kosovo-online portal) • Journalist on the Strpce case: Possible arrests of people from the Kosovo government and ministries (N1) • Vucic on action in Strpce: “Kurti did it because of Open Balkans” (B92) • US set to name Resident Legal Advisor for Western Balkans (N1) • N1 documentary on Kosovo Serb “Asphalt Kings” (N1) Opinion: • Legal framework for Kosovo Serbs tailored to Pristina (part four): Regional and/or Albanian integration (KoSSev) • Hill’s Return to Belgrade Spells Challenge for Serbia (Balkan Insight) International: • Rival Albania Opposition Leader Leads Protest Against ‘Diabolical’ Serbia (Balkan Insight) • Leaders of “Open Balkans” seek Germany’s support (Albanian Daily News) • Kosovo Arrests Ten for Corruption, Including Ex-Mayor (Balkan Insight) • Former UN Spokesperson Writes Novel About Kosovo Guerrilla (BIRN)

• Kosovo Police conducting operation in Shterpce area (media) • Kosovo, Denmark sign prison rent agreement (media) • Ministry urges refrain from actions that "could undermine Kosovo recognition process" (Klan) • U.S. removes from blacklist Croatian-based company (Koha) • A convoy of KFOR vehicles to arrive in Kosovo (media) • Rival Albania Opposition Leader Leads Protest Against ‘Diabolical’ Serbia (BIRN) • Protesters burn Serbian flags in rally called by former DP leader Sali Berisha (euronews.al) • COVID-19: Three new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 20, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • Pacolli claims he has secured a new recognition for Kosovo (media) • Women make only 15% of Kosovo Police, leaders call for greater participation (EO/Koha) • Vela: Serbia and Republika Srpska are Russia's tools for destabilisation (Telegrafi) • COVID-19: Three new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • Covid-19: 17 new cases, one death registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM) • Qerkini: “Kurti has no plan to resolve missing persons issue, called us for votes only” (KoSSev) • Vucic: No power outages expected in Serbia (N1) • Brnabic: Situation with electricity supply stable (N1) • Cadez: Common labour market with “Open Balkan” states next year (Kosovo-online) • “Referendum has nothing to do with Kosovo status” (Radio KIM) • Pristina once again blocking CEFTA, citizens and economy suffer greatest damage (RTS) • Euronews in Serbian on Association of Serbian Municipalities, Serbian List • Case of Dusko Arsic – matrix for usurpation of Serb properties in Kosovo and Metohija (RTS, Radio kontakt plus)