• MEPs call for full removal of EU measures on Kosovo (media)
• Bahamas recognize Kosovo; Osmani: A historic decision (media)
• Kurti on recognition from Bahamas: This marks fourth recognition this year alone (media)
• Hamza: Enough with divisions, only together can we win and move forward (Express)
• Kosovo arrests ex-member of Serbian ministry over abduction of a Serb (media)
• Kosovo heads to polls as political deadlock threatens vital funds (Reuters)
• Ulutas briefs representatives of 33 troop-contributing countries at KFOR HQ (media)
• Ulutas: For two years, NATO calls for Banjska perpetrators to be held accountable (TeVe1)
• OSCE and French Embassy promote women’s participation in election processes (RTK)
• Joseph on Serbia, NATO, and the Kosovo Model (Civil Today/media)
• Security cameras proliferate in Kosovo – and privacy complaints rise (BIRN)
• It’s not a Christmas tree, it’s a Balkan New Year tree! (BIRN)

MEPs call for full removal of EU measures on Kosovo (media)

European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Kosovo, Riho Terras, said that together with other MPEs they signed a letter to European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner Marta Kos calling for the removal of all EU measures on Kosovo. “EU’s punitive measures on Kosovo hurt civil society, small and medium enterprises, education and energy, not politicians. All measures must be lifted now,” Terras said.

Below is the joint letter:

We, the undersigned members of the European Parliament, demand the immediate lifting of the punitive measures imposed on Kosovo in 2023.

The measures that the European Commission developed and imposed on Kosovo have been unfair, disproportionate and counterproductive from the start. They have had no real purpose since the moment they were imposed, and the European Union has achieved nothing with these measures except a decline in public opinion in Kosovo towards the European Union.

The negative impact of the European Union's measures on Kosovo society is extremely profound and is felt in many different areas of life. Civil society organizations, the cultural and educational sector, small and medium-sized enterprises, the energy sector, and the list goes on, are suffering from these unnecessary measures.

All major political parties in Kosovo have also expressed their serious concerns about the measures and have signalled this to the European Commission. Any speculation that the lifting of the measures could be seen as a politicised act by the Commission in light of the upcoming general elections is unfounded.

The year 2025 has been an extremely difficult and turbulent one for Kosovo politically. Since the general elections in February, there has been no functioning national assembly or functioning government. However, democracy is functioning at the local level – as confirmed by the local elections in October of this year.

The impact of the European Union's punitive measures is felt mainly in local life, and less at the government level. The punishment of the people of Kosovo through such measures must be stopped by repealing 100% of the measures. Lifting 50% of them is not enough. Therefore, we call on the European Commission to immediately end the measures. This must be done before the elections for the National Assembly in Kosovo on 28 December 2025.

Bahamas recognize Kosovo; Osmani: A historic decision (media)

All news websites reported on Friday that the Bahamas has recognized Kosovo. Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, who went to the Bahamas to sign the bilateral agreement, said the recognition is a historic decision. A joint statement issued by the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and Kosovo said that they are “affirming their commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including respect for sovereignty, equality of States, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. They agree to advance their relationship on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity, and constructive engagement. The Bahamas and Kosovo express their intention to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including political consultation, trade and investment, tourism, education and culture, technology and innovation, public sector cooperation, and people to people exchange, subject to the laws and procedures of each country. The Bahamas and Kosovo look forward to building a warm and productive partnership that serves the interests of both peoples and contributes to peace and cooperation internationally”.

News websites also note that Kosovo has been recognized by 121 world countries so far.

Kurti on recognition from Bahamas: This marks fourth recognition this year alone (media)

Kosovo caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a post on X that the recognition of Kosovo by the Bahamas “marks the fourth recognition this year alone”. “We look forward to strengthening our bilateral ties and fostering strong diplomatic, economic, and cultural cooperation. We would like to thank President Vjosa Osmani and everyone involved for this achievement,” he said.

Hamza: Enough with divisions, only together can we win and move forward (Express)

Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and candidate for Prime Minister, Bedri Hamza, in a video message for the December 28 parliamentary elections, focused on the need for unity and overcoming political divisions. He said that people are tired from constant crisis and divisions which he argued have damaged “the society and the state”. “I don’t believe in a divisive policy. I believe in unity. Because only when we are united, are we stronger. Only united we win,” he said.

Kosovo arrests ex-member of Serbian ministry over abduction of a Serb (media)

Kosovo caretaker Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, said on Saturday that Kosovo’s authorities have arrested a former member of the Serbian Interior Ministry in relation to the “abduction of Kosovo national Milan Vukasinovic” inside the territory of Kosovo on November 1. He said that the arrested person, V.M., had been integrated into the Kosovo Police in line with the Brussels agreement in 2013, but that he had later resigned. He said the suspect was arrested during a joint operation by Kosovo Police and the Kosovo Intelligence Agency in Leshak. “There is grounded doubt that the arrested person cooperated and continuously supported Serbia’s security structures, including the kidnapping of Milan Vukasinovic, who was seriously wounded during the abduction and is currently being treated in a hospital in Serbia,” Svecla said in a Facebook post.

Svecla also said that the suspect is believed to have been in contact with Serbia’s intelligence and army structures, “he prepared Serb youths for trainings in cooperation with members of the Serbian army, and that he was at least aware of preparations for the terrorist attack in Banjska”.

Kosovo Police said in a report later on Sunday that during a search at the suspect’s house they found a rifle and ammunition.

Kosovo heads to polls as political deadlock threatens vital funds (Reuters)

Kosovo will hold elections on December 28 after a year-long political stalemate that led to the dissolution of parliament and left a 1-billion-euro hole in the small Balkan country's shaky finances.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje party won the last election in February, but failed to secure a majority or find a willing coalition party after an acrimonious campaign. Many fear a repeat could throw Europe's newest state into further crisis, just four months before parliament must vote for a new president and as deadlines loom to ratify international loans.

“These elections will be the most important ones in recent Kosovo history because they are coming after one year of deadlock, but also four months before a new president will be elected," said political analyst Artan Muhaxhiri.

"If Kurti wins again with around 42%, all this deadlock will be repeated, because the gap between Kurti and other parties is huge, unbridgeable."

Polls are not made public in Kosovo, so there is little sign of how the vote will go.

But it appears unlikely that any of the major opposition parties will be willing to form a government with Kurti, who they say has stoked tensions with Kosovo's ethnic Serb minority in the north, done little to improve living standards, and tarnished Kosovo's reputation abroad.

Kurti, who came to power in 2021, blames the opposition for the stalemate and remains publicly optimistic about winning the 500,000 "hearts" required to gain an outright majority.

At a rally this week, he promised to increase salaries, spend one billion euros a year on capital investment and create a new prosecution unit to fight organised crime.

“Now I believe that it has never been more realistic than now to have Kurti Three," he told local TV station Kanal 10 this month, using his term for a third mandate.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/q4NiV

Ulutas briefs representatives of 33 troop-contributing countries at KFOR HQ (media)

Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Ozkan Ulutas, hosted Ambassadors, Heads of Missions and Senior National Representatives from the 33 troop-contributing countries at KFOR Headquarters in Camp Film City, Pristina. KFOR said in a Facebook post that marking his first collective engagement with representatives of troop-contributing countries since assuming command, Ulutas outlined the current security situation in Kosovo, KFOR’s ongoing activities, and key priorities ahead. “He reaffirmed KFOR’s commitment to ensuring a safe and secure environment for all people living in Kosovo, stressing the importance of continued coordination and cooperation with international partners, and expressed his sincere appreciation to all troop-contributing countries for their enduring support,” the post notes.

Ulutas: For two years, NATO demands for Banjska perpetrators to be brought to justice (TeVe1)

Commander of the NATO-led KFOR mission, Major General Uzkan Ulutas, in an interview with TeVe1, said that for two years now NATO has been calling for the perpetrators of the September 2023 attack in Banjska in the north of Kosovo to be held accountable and that NATO expects Serbian authorities to cooperate on the matter. “The attack in Banjska and the attack against KFOR troops in Zvecan are unacceptable. NATO responded immediately. KFOR was reinforced with 1,000 additional troops and it increased patrols along the administrative boundary. This included joint patrols with the Kosovo Police in the north of Kosovo and synchronized patrols between KFOR and Serbian armed forces along the administrative boundary line. We have monitored the situation up-close, and we haven’t seen any indicators that would suggest any increased activity along the ABL. As we have said we are in regular communication with different levels of Kosovo’s security organizations and the armed forces of Serbia,” he said.

OSCE and French Embassy promote women’s participation in election processes (RTK)

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo said in a Facebook post on Saturday that despite gender equality legislation and electoral quotas, women in Kosovo remain underrepresented in political decision-making. “In the lead-up to the early Assembly elections, with funding from France, we are organizing workshops across five regions of Kosovo to strengthen outreach to women voters and promote their participation in the electoral process,” the mission said.

Joseph on Serbia, NATO, and the Kosovo Model: A Strategic Proposal with Implications for Ukraine (Civil Today/media)

Several Albanian news websites rerun an interview that Edward P. Joseph, Lecturer at Johns Hopkins University SAIS and a leading American expert on the Balkans and conflict management, had with Civil Today.

Civil Today: Professor Joseph, thank you very much for being with us today. This is truly an exclusive opportunity, particularly in light of your latest initiative — the proposal to bring Serbia into NATO and to apply elements of the Kosovo model to the Donbas region. This idea was discussed recently at a U.S. congressional hearing and has sparked considerable interest. To begin, could you briefly explain the core concept behind your Balkans proposal and why you believe it could change the strategic dynamics of the war in Ukraine?

Thank you very much for the opportunity — it’s a pleasure to be with you and your important audience. My approach would have a transformative impact on the Balkans, and a supplementary but significant impact on ending the war in Ukraine. These are two different levels of effect. The most profound impact would be regional. Transforming the Balkans would indirectly affect the war in Ukraine by placing additional pressure on Vladimir Putin. My proposal would result in Russia — and China as well — losing their primary avenues of influence in the region. Let me give you one striking statistic on China: 96 percent of Chinese foreign investment in the Balkans is in Serbia. As for Russia, Serbia remains the platform through which Moscow continues to exert influence in the region — most notably by exploiting the Kosovo issue. This same logic has been directly applied by Putin in the Ukraine theater, and we should be very clear about that. For Vladimir Putin, Kosovo is not an abstract issue. It is deeply personal. He views the 1999 NATO intervention in Kosovo as something that occurred when Russia was weak and marginalized. It became part of his broader grievance against the West. When he famously said that the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century, Kosovo symbolized that humiliation. That grievance still weighs heavily on him. So when I say that bringing Serbia into NATO would have a significant impact, I mean it quite literally. Putin has built much of his political career attacking the 1999 Kosovo intervention and using it as a justification for aggression in Ukraine.

Read more at: https://shorturl.at/hRFj8

Security cameras proliferate in Kosovo – and privacy complaints rise (BIRN)

The agency tasked with cracking down on violations of privacy in Kosovo says it can hardly keep up with the number of complaints about security cameras.

Tafe Mustafi says he has been effectively placed under surveillance, ever since his neighbour installed security cameras.

“They have been recording me for three months,” said Mustafi, who lives in the eastern Kosovo town of Viti/Vitina.

“He can place cameras on his property and do whatever he wants, but he can’t violate my privacy.”

The neighbour, however, said he installed the cameras after an armed attack on his home, and denied invading Mustafi’s privacy, but the row is only the latest in Kosovo concerning alleged breaches of privacy in the use of surveillance systems.

In April, Kosovo’s Information and Privacy Agency, IPA, carried out inspections at 16 businesses and found that most did not comply with laws concerning the processing of personal data captured via video surveillance systems.

Complaints are on the rise, the IPA told BIRN. This year, as of early December, the agency had carried out 155 inspections based on 51 complaints from members of the public.

“In recent months, we have seen a growing trend when it comes to inspections but also complaints submitted by citizens,” said Kushtrim Mustafa, IPA’s Acting Director for Protection of Personal Data.

“This shows that citizens are becoming increasingly aware to react when they suspect that their privacy is being violated.”

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

It’s not a Christmas tree, it’s a Balkan New Year tree! (BIRN)

Opinion by Arber Qerka-Gashi

Many Balkan Muslims put up a decorated tree in winter to celebrate New Year – a tradition that’s widely misunderstood by both Christians and some other Muslims.

Being a Muslim of Balkan heritage who was born and raised in London has been a somewhat complex experience. While my community originates from Europe, our very existence as Muslims historically has often complicated notions of identity and belonging. At least, that has been my experience.

This tension has been felt by myself and by other Balkan Muslims I know for as long as I can remember.

While my parents are not particularly religious, Islam remains an essential part of their identity. Specific Muslim values were always present in my home, and I still cherish them. My father is an Albanian. My mother comes from an urban Muslim Turkish-speaking family from Pristina in Kosovo. Both were shaped by the Socialist Yugoslav system, which permitted religious identities, but only in a muted form, which influenced their practice over time.

Outside my own familial and cultural context, however, I have noticed how difficult it is for the British and wider Western world to understand the cultural practices we held dear. No time highlighted this tension more than our celebration of New Year, which was frequently met with misunderstanding and, at times, unnecessary scrutiny.

In my cultural context, as a Kosovo Albanian Muslim, celebrating New Year with traditions that resemble the Western Christmas was, and still is, a common and meaningful non-religious practice. My mother would often evoke memories of her devout Muslim mother, who would annually save scraps of coloured sweet-wrapper paper to handcraft her own New Year’s tree decorations. For us, that is what it was: a New Year’s tree, not a Christmas tree.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/2remvduz