The Kosovo delegation has made it clear that there will be no new topics discussed in the dialogue with Belgrade until the Mitrovica bridge is unblocked, the justice agreement is implemented and the Civil Protection is dissolved. “The position of the Kosovo side has been very clear. There is no sense in continuing to open new issues without implementation of reached agreements,” said Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa’s advisor, Valon Murtezaj. Murtezaj said that Kosovo assets will never be discussed with Serbia.

 Urlike Lunacek Vice-President of the European Parliament and Austrian expert for Balkans, Vedran Dzhic, wrote in a joint article for the Austrian daily Standard, that Kosovo people suffer due to the local problems and due to the international community’s failure to fully recognize, which has also contributed to the current situation.

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, visited today Romania, where he met with his counterpart, Victor Ponta. During the joint press conference Rama appealed to Romania to recognize Kosovo and become part of the process followed by Euro-Atlantic countries. “And the last, but not by importance, my reiterated request: my wish for Romania to finally recognize Kosovo and give Kosovo the chance to move forward in the process of the recognitions, including the process of those democratic countries  that have already recognized Kosovo.

The Special Chamber of the Supreme Court has set the date of the 1 November 2016 as the deadline for the Privatization Agency of Kosovo (PAK) to submit the plan for the reorganization of Trepca enterprise. According to the verdict, PAK is advised to inform immediately Kosovo authorities for the financial needs, and for the engagement of the bidder for professional services in the procedure of Trepca’s reorganization.

Kosovo Security Force Minister Haki Demolli said that the draft law on the establishment of Kosovo Armed Forces (KAF) will be presented to the government next week.  He added however that before a draft law on transformation of the KSF into KAF is passed, the Kosovo Assembly needs to vote in favour of constitutional changes. Demolli explained that the KSF transformation process is expected to happen in three stages.

The former RTK Belgrade-based correspondent, Fahri Musliu, writes in an opinion piece that the lack of visa liberalization is the main cause of the recent irregular migration of Kosovo people towards European Union (EU). Musliu writes that the EU is responsible for Kosovo people taking the “route through hell”, spending their money and putting their life in danger in order to seek a better future in the EU. The author writes that the situation is alarming and requires urgent solutions.

In a recent report titled Overcoming Barriers to Women’s Political Participation, the US NGO National Democratic Institute (NDI) made calls for stepping up efforts in ensuring a meaningful participation of Kosovo women in politics. The report recognizes the progress in Kosovo but warns about three issues which require more effort.

The columnist Enver Robelli, on today’s editorial writes that Kosovo can hope for a better future, only if it strengthens the justice system. According to the author, the newly nominated Chief Prosecutor, Aleksander Lumezi, must first visit Romania and see the actual work of the authorities there, because, according to him, this European Union country has finally launched an extensive campaign against corrupt politicians.

The Kosovo government is in negotiations with several European Union countries to send workers from Kosovo for seasonal employment. According to Kosovo's Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Arban Abrashi, the government expects in spring to reach agreements with some of these countries. Abrashi adds that the whole process will be monitored, including the working conditions, health conditions, as well as returns. Abrashi says the migration of people leaves a shadow to this process,  but according to him, this will help in preventing the irregular migration.

European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee passed today a draft resolution calling on five EU countries that have not recognised independence of Kosovo to do so. The draft resolution, prepared by EP Rapporteur for Kosovo Ulrike Lunacek, received 35 votes in favour from the members of the committee and 7 against. Lunacek said she hoped that the draft would also receive the support of the European Parliament members during a plenary session that will take place in March.