UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 24, 2025

Kosovo, Serbia ‘need to normalize’ relations: Kosovo PM (AFP)
Kosovo in limbo: The year’s political deadlock paralyzed progress (BIRN)
Electricity cuts risk December 28 election process (Koha)
KSF Commander hosts Chief of Albanian Armed Forces (Telegrafi)
EBRD to back Kosovo SME investments with 31 mln euro package (SeeNews)
OSCE report on Inter-Municipal Cooperation in Kosovo (Klan Kosova)
AJK welcomes ruling in favor of journalist “after unlawful demotion at RTK” (media)
Sekerinska calls for constructive engagement in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)
Osmani: May light of Christmas guide us toward understanding and unity (media)
“Two models under consideration for Serbian-licensed vehicles in Kosovo” (Kossev)
Deda: A Glimmer of Hope (Kossev)

Kosovo, Serbia ‘need to normalize’ relations: Kosovo PM (AFP)

Kosovo and Serbia need to “normalize” their relations, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti told AFP Wednesday, several days before legislative elections where he is seeking to extend his term with more solid backing.

Kurti has been in office since 2021 and previous accords signed with Serbia – which does not recognize the independence of its former province – have yet to be respected.

“We need to normalize relations with Serbia,” said Kurti. “But normalizing relations with a neighboring authoritarian regime that doesn’t recognize you, that also doesn’t admit to the crimes committed during the war, is quite difficult,” he added.

Tensions between the two neighbors are regularly high, and renewed unrest would provide Russia with means of destabilizing his country.

“We do have a normalization agreement,” Kurti said, referring to the agreement signed under the auspices of the European Union in 2023.

“We must implement it, which implies mutual recognition between the countries, at least de facto recognition.”

But to resume dialogue, Serbia “must hand over Milan Radoicic,” a Serb accused of plotting an attack in northern Kosovo in 2023, Kurti asserted, hoping that “the EU, France, and Germany will put pressure” on Belgrade to do so.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/Nzd7x

Electricity cuts risk December 28 election process (Koha)

Unannounced electricity cuts in several municipalities in Kosovo in the last couple of days have also caused concern among members of the Central Election Commission (CEC) who fear that they could face the same problem on December 28, the day of parliamentary elections. At the CEC meeting on Tuesday, PDK representative Arianit Elshani said that the whole process is now dependent on technology and which does not function without electricity. “We are talking about the process of vote counting which will start after 19:00 [on December 28] but which also includes the functionality of cameras in every polling station. This also includes the existing capacities of the Voting Centers, schools, that will have to use generators if they have any,” he said. Sami Hamiti, another member of the CEC, raised concerns about the recent overload and infrastructure problems in several regions of Kosovo. Besnik Buzhala, acting head of the CEC Secretariat, meanwhile said that they have already communicated with the Kosovo Energy Distribution System (KEDS) and have identified a lack of generators for polling stations.

KSF Commander hosts Chief of Albanian Armed Forces (Telegrafi)

Commander of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) Lieutenant General Bashkim Jashari hosted in Pristina today the chief of the Armed Forces of Albania, Lieutenant General Arben Kingji, thanking him for the support for the KSF. They discussed current developments in the area of security and the role of KSF in guaranteeing security in Kosovo and as an important contributor to maintaining regional stability. They also said that furthering cooperation between the Albanian Armed Forces and the Kosovo Security Force “remains a national strategic interest” and that strengthening defense capabilities is “crucial for guaranteeing regional security and stability”.

EBRD to back Kosovo SME investments with 31 mln euro package (SeeNews)

The European Union for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said on Tuesday it is extending a 31 million euro ($36.6 million) funding package to Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo, aimed at facilitating access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The package comprises an unfunded portfolio risk-sharing guarantee of up to 25 million euro, a 3 million euro loan targeting mainly investment in digitalization, and a 3 million euro loan targeting chiefly green investment, the EBRD said in a press release.

The risk sharing agreement targets 50 million euro in total value of secured loans. The arrangement also includes European Union-backed first loss risk cover of up to 2 million euro. Loans will finance eligible MSMEs, with at least 30% for green investment, and with a focus on youth- and women-led enterprises, firms outside Prishtina, and the agribusiness and tourism sectors.

One of the 3 million euro loan arrangements, which falls under EBRD's Go Digital programme to support SME automation, digitalisation and green technologies, will have at least 60% of funding dedicated to digital projects and 60% of investments qualifying under the Green Economy Transition framework. The EU will also support this programme through technical assistance and investment incentives of up to 10% of individual loans.

OSCE report on Inter-Municipal Cooperation in Kosovo (Klan Kosova)

The news website covers a report published by the OSCE mission in Kosovo on Inter-Municipal Cooperation titled “Lessons learned and Future Opportunities” and which notes that although there is a legal framework for this cooperation and that it is generally aligned with the standards of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation, its implementation in practice remains limited and insufficiently utilized.

The report notes that Inter-Municipal Cooperation (IMC) refers to a formal or informal arrangement where two or more municipalities, as legally recognised entities, join eff¬orts in achieving a shared goal. This can serve different purposes, ranging from modest local initiatives to addressing complex challenges. When formalised through binding agreements, IMC can be utilised to provide better services to the residents, create new funding opportunities, and strengthen ties between communities. The IMC legislation in Kosovo is generally aligned with the frameworks developed by the European Union (EU), the Council of Europe (CoE), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). While it aims to unlock the same benefits observed by these organisations, as this report points out, it remains largely underused in practice. This is primarily because IMC in Kosovo is still limited, often informal and unstructured, if it occurs at all. This underuse reflects both technical and political obstacles. The current legal process is seen as overly complex and bureaucratic. Municipalities often lack the capacity or incentives to navigate through it, while key institutions such as the Ministry of Local Government Administration (MLGA) are under-resourced. As a result, opportunities for stronger services, smarter spending, and inter-community co-operation are being missed.

Read full report at: https://shorturl.at/ZwP5h

AJK welcomes ruling in favor of journalist “after unlawful demotion at RTK” (media)

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) said in a statement on Tuesday that it welcomes the decision of the Labour Inspectorate, which upheld the complaint filed by journalist Blerta Foniqi Kabashi and ruled in her favor against the management of Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK). “The Labour Inspectorate found that the decision to demote Foniqi Kabashi from her position as Editor of the Central News Edition to a program editor was unlawful. The decision had been taken by the Acting Editor-in-Chief, Blerim Haxhija, who, according to the Inspectorate, no longer had the mandate to issue such a decision, as his term had expired on 15 September 2025. Foniqi Kabashi had also been issued a disciplinary measure in the form of a ‘warning’ related to her work as editor of the Central News Edition. The Labour Inspectorate ordered RTK to reinstate her to her contractually defined position within three days. AJK considers this ruling an important confirmation of the pressure exerted by RTK’s management on journalists and editors who carry out their work independently and professionally. AJK reiterates that continued political interference by the Government of Kosovo through the political party Vetëvendosje in the editorial independence of the public broadcaster RTK is unacceptable and poses a serious threat to media freedom,” the statement notes.

Sekerinska calls for constructive engagement in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue (media)

NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Sekerinska, in an interview with Kosovo Online, said that the lack of political will by Belgrade and Pristina to engage constructively in the normalization process is worrying. “We see some worrying trends in the Western Balkans: secessionist threats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the fragile security situation in Kosovo, and the lack of political will of Belgrade and Pristina to participate constructively in the normalization process. Authoritarian regimes such as Russia seek to interfere and undermine democracies, exploiting internal vulnerabilities in the region to sow division. Any interference in the country's democratic processes is unacceptable. This includes hacking attacks, information threats, intimidation, and other destabilizing activities. We fully respect the sovereign right of every nation to choose its own political and security arrangements. This is a fundamental principle of European security to which we are all committed, including Russia.We will continue to enhance our political dialogue and practical cooperation with our partners in the Western Balkans to support reforms, regional peace and security, and counter malign influence, including disinformation and cyber threats posed by both state and non-state actors. Democratic values, the rule of law, domestic reforms, and good neighbourly relations are vital for regional cooperation and for Euro-Atlantic integration. This requires political leadership and courage. We urge all actors to continue progress in this regard for the benefit of all communities living in the region,” she said.

Sekerinska also said that the Western Balkans remain high on NATO’s list of priorities. “This is a region of strategic importance for our alliance. NATO supports stability, security and cooperation in the region. Our commitment to the stability of the region is unwavering and we will not allow a security vacuum to arise,” she argued.

Osmani: May light of Christmas guide us toward understanding and unity (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani took to X today to wish a “merry Christmas to all our Christian friends and family in Kosovo and around the world”. “May this festive season be a time to cherish our loved ones, extend a hand to those in need, and hold close the values that unite us all: compassion, gratitude, and hope. May the light of Christmas guide us toward understanding, unity, and a stronger sense of responsibility for one another in the year ahead,” Osmani said.

“Two models under consideration for Serbian-licensed vehicles in Kosovo” (Kossev)

Two potential models are currently being considered to address the status of vehicles with Serbian license plates operating in Kosovo, Caretaker Minister for Communities and Returns Nenad Vukmirovic said, as concerns grow ahead of the planned enforcement of the Law on Vehicles on January 15.

“One option is to find a model under which these vehicles could pay appropriate insurance in Kosovo and thereby be recognized as legal, while the other is the possibility of re-registration. Both options are on the table, and initiatives in that direction have already been launched,” Vukmirovic stated.

He made the remarks in an interview with Glas Kosova, ahead of Kosovo’s snap parliamentary elections scheduled for December 28.

In the interview, Vukmirovic — a member of the civic initiative For Freedom, Justice and Survival — spoke about expectations from the upcoming elections, the position of the Serb community in Kosovo, relations with Belgrade, and his own contribution to the community so far.

As part of the discussion, Vukmirovic was also asked about one of the most pressing issues affecting Kosovo Serbs: vehicles bearing Serbian license plates that currently operate under authorization. According to an announcement by Kosovo’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, such authorizations are expected to cease once implementation of the Law on Vehicles begins on January 15.

Vukmirovic described the issue as complex, but solvable, stressing that institutions are aware of citizens’ concerns.

“We consider this case to be fundamentally very serious, but at the same time we believe that with additional time and constructive dialogue, a lasting solution can be reached. While we understand the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which is acting in line with existing Kosovo laws, the most important thing is to ensure space for an agreement that will be in the interest of citizens,” he said.

As a minimum step, Vukmirovic added, an additional postponement of the deadline will be requested. He also confirmed that Kosovo institutions are coordinating with representatives of the European Union on resolving the matter.

Vukmirovic expressed hope that a solution would be found after the elections, emphasizing the need for compromise that would “ensure legal certainty and ease the daily lives of citizens.”

“In this process, we are in constant coordination with representatives of the European Union, and we believe that with goodwill on all sides, a solution will be found in the coming period, likely after the parliamentary elections,” Vukmirovic said, according to Glas Kosova.

Deda: A Glimmer of Hope (Kossev)

Letter by Ilir Deda

Dear Sasa,

I have spent a great deal of time thinking and rethinking my response to your fundamental question about human rights. I believe that human rights will remain one of the pillars by which a successful state and society in Europe are measured, regardless of the perception that their importance is diminishing.

I firmly believe that in Kosovo, no one—under any circumstances—should ever be denied rights or equality. There is no condition under which guaranteed equality and freedom may be taken away from anyone. This is especially true for Kosovo, which gained its independence precisely because of the massive violations of human rights and the system of apartheid in the 1990s, a period that ended in war and documented mass war crimes.

For this very reason, Kosovo—at the cost of being the only country in the world, if necessary—must always guarantee, respect, and defend the human rights of all people who live there. And, of course, this must apply regardless of the nature of the government in Serbia or the level of human rights violations in Serbia.

However, our Balkans are still living in a cycle of unfinished conflicts, something I have written about extensively in our correspondence.

What seems most realistic—and is also historically proven—is that the Western Balkans cannot be normalized without pressure and demands from outside, primarily from Europe and the United States.

In this light, and because of its strong emphasis on human rights, I view with great sympathy the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act, which also includes U.S. policy toward the Western Balkans. Among other things, it states that peace, stability, and a democratic future for the Western Balkans are a strategic interest of the United States.