With the goal of assessing effects and results of investments in municipalities in northern Kosovo in last three years, the Institute for Territorial Economic Development (InTER) in cooperation with the RTV Mir from Leposavić/Leposaivq, supported by the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society, is conducting a project dubbed ‘Effects of investments in Northern Kosovo after the signing of the Brussels Agreement – Do we live better?”

The chairperson of the Provisional body of Kosovska Mitrovica, Aleksandar Spirić, stated yesterday that the first safe house will be inaugurated in the course of this week in Mitrovica north.

In addition to this, he said, a foundation stone will be laid for the construction of a cold storage, and that construction of the branch of the kindergarten in suburb ‘Bosniac mahala’ will be accomplished.

Kosovo’s Justice Minister, Dhurata Hoxha, met on Tuesday the president of the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC), Nehat Idrizi. Hoxha and Idrizi stated that the integration of the judicial system in northern Kosovo will happen soon, despite the challenges that may arise during the process. Hoxha stated the ministry will fully support the KJC to increase the efficiency of the judiciary throughout Kosovo. “We as ministry will work closely with the KJC and will help in making the necessary reforms to increase the efficiency of the judiciary.

Last week, Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandr Chepurin, visited Mitrovica North, where he met mayors from northern Kosovo and Presidents of Serbian interim authorities, and laid wreaths at the two monuments. After that Chepurin visited returnee village “Sunny Valley.”

Kosovo’s Minister without portfolio, engaged in the dialogue with Serbia, Edita Tahiri, said today that progress has been reached in many significant fields of the processes for establishment and consolidation of Kosovo institutions in the north. She said that preparations are being made for round up this process.

Since 2010 to date the European Union has invested more than 54 million euros for 124 projects in the north of Kosovo. So far, the total value of the implemented projects is 8.5 million. Projects valued 37.25 million euros are in realization process, while projects valued 8.74 million have not yet been initiated.  The largest number of the projects is in the municipality of North Mitrovica - 38, followed by the municipality of Leposavić/Leposaviç - 34, Zvečan/Zveçan - 23 and Zubin Potok - 21.

Kosovo institutions will start functioning in northern Kosovo, announced Kosovo Minister without portfolio in the Kosovo government in charge for the dialogue with Belgrade, Edita Tahiri. Belgrade did not react on this statement, whereas politicians in the north are reserved and jurists are suspicious about deadlines that are mentioned.

Kontakt plus Radio in cooperation with the NGO Center for Women’s Development, from Mitrovica North, works on the implementation of the project ‘My Stance’ aimed at increased participation of residents in northern Kosovo in the process of designing the strategic documents related to the creation and work of the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo (A/CSO).

From 2010 until today the European Union has invested more than EUR 54 million in 124 projects in northern Kosovo. Project implemented so far value EUR 8.5 million, whereas EUR 37.25 million are in the process of implementation, whilst works related to the projects in total value of EUR 8.5 million are still pending.

Local councilors from the ranks of the Civic Initiative ‘Srpska’ on Monday boycotted the address of the councilor Ksenija Božović, from the ranks of the Civic Initiative SDP, and left the regular session of the local assembly of Mitrovica North.