• 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)

• Rohde: Kurti administration should take concrete steps (euronews.al) • Kosovo Parliament approves €2.75 billion budget for 2022 (Exit News) • Palokaj: There could be visa liberalisation in first half of 2022 (Koha) • Protests called against Serbian President visit to Albania (Exit News) • Police mobilize for Vucic visit to Tirana and Berisha rally (euronews.al) • Albanians and Serbs ‘influence the Balkans’, says Lajcak (media) • How can Kosovo government approach the visa liberalisation issue? (EWB) • How did Denmark find shelter for its inmates in Kosovo? (euronews.al) • Afghan refugees slowly leave Balkan countries for West (BIRN) • Last despatches: Why the Balkan wars were so deadly for journalists (BIRN) • COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 17, 2021 Albanian Language Media: • Osmani: Kosovo, the most successful project of U.S.-EU foreign policy (media) • Kosovo's new ambassador to U.S. meets Escobar (media) • Kosovo and Croatia sign MoU in the field of security and defence (media) • State Department publishes country reports on terrorism (VOA) • CDHRF: Agreement with Denmark legalises discrimination of Kosovo inmates (media) • Association of Kosovo Municipalities says mayors will boycott meeting on COVID-19 situation (media) • COVID-19: 11 new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • NATO Joint Forces chief Admiral Burke in Belgrade (N1) • EP adopts resolution on forced labor at Chinese plant in Serbia (N1) • Dacic: EP Resolution, example of double standards (RTS) • Selakovic begins visit to France (Tanjug) • Kandic: The region’s political oligarchies glorify those convicted of war crimes (N1, Beta, KoSSev, FoNet) • State Department: Serbia invests efforts in fight against terrorism (RTS, VoA) • Vladislav Jovanovic: I do not expect dialogue to be accelerated because it does not suit West (Kosovo-online) • Lawyer: Arsic threatened before arrest, he wanted to reclaim usurped property (Kosovo-online) • Tadic former Serbian president, calls for ad-hoc coalition against Constitutional changes (N1) International: • Western Balkan Countries Struggle to Keep Lights On (Balkan Insight) • Political Unrest and Propaganda Spark Online Violations (Balkan Insight) Humanitarian/Development: • Kindergarten construction in Gorazdevac village has started (KoSSev) • Zvecan power issue resolved (Kosovo-online)

• Kurti: With the Association, Kosovo falls for Serbia’s game (Koha) • President Osmani to deliver annual address in parliament today (media) • Kosovo seeks equality in CEFTA, Serbia toughens barriers (Klan Kosova) • Denmark to rent 300 prison cells in Kosovo for deportees (Prishtina Insight) • Croatian Defense Minister to visit Kosovo today (RTK) • President Osmani thanks Macron and French people for vaccine donation (media) • COVID-19: 8 new cases, no deaths (media) • Kajtazi reports threats to police; AJK wants protection for Kajtazi (Telegrafi) • Kosovo murder trial witness refuses to name Serb crime gangs (BIRN) • EU to finance new wastewater plant in Kosovo (webalkans.eu) • EP adopts Resolution on fight against organised crime in Western Balkans (EWB) • Online Intimidation: Controlling the Narrative in the Balkans (Balkan Insight) • Vucic to visit Tirana on December 20; Berisha announces protest (Indeksonline)

Albanian Language Media: • Minister Gervalla to visit Presevo Valley today (media) • EU: Kosovo should have allowed Petkovic's visit as Serbia did with Gervalla (Klan) • EULEX Chief: We do not interfere directly in court proceedings, we only give recommendations (Klan) • Mehaj receives tomorrow Croatian Minister of Defense (Klan) • The CEC announces the results for mayor of Dragash (RTK) • Minister Haxhiu provides details for landing 300 cells to Denmark (RTK) • Kosovo Historians Slate Serbian Minister for Denying ‘Proven’ Massacre (Prishtina Insight) • EP requests opening of archives of former Yugoslavia due to political crimes (RFE) • “Energy price in Kosovo risks going up”, says expert warning on power shortages (euronews.al) • Serbia blocks Kosovo goods at the border (RTK) • COVID-19: 8 new cases, no deaths (media) Serbian Language Media: • Petkovic: Kurti's arbitrariness not to allow voting is a violation of basic human rights (RTS) • Office for Kosovo and Metohija refutes reports Gervala was prevented from visiting southern Serbia (KoSSev, media) • Stano: Visit of Petkovic should have been allowed, EU calls on Kosovo to reconsider its decision (Kosovo-online) • Konjufca: The decision on the land of Visoki Decani should not be implemented, the judges did not protect the Kosovo Constitution (KoSSev, Klan Kosova) • Serbian power company CEO dismisses managers over power outages (N1) • Serbian, Russian general staff officers discuss cooperation in Moscow (N1) • Witness in case of Dusko Arsic interviewed (Radio KIM) • USAID marks 20 years of partnership with Serbia, invested 882 million dollars (N1, RTS) Opinion: • Serbia: A Testament to People Power (carnegieeurope.eu) International: • Denmark to ship prisoners off to Kosovo (Deutsche Welle) • China’s Economic Diplomacy: Where do Taiwan and Kosovo fit in? (moderndiplomacy.eu)