Albanian Language Media:

• Hoti: Battling pandemic and economic recovery, main objectives (media)
• Thaci meets Meta in Tirana (media)
• Haskuka: Hoti government will bring no good to Kosovo (Kosovapress)
• EU delivers ambulances, beds and medical equipment to Kosovo (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Stoltenberg: NATO continues to contribute to security in Kosovo (media)
• Brnabic, Fabrizi on new Pristina government, Lajcak’s role, dialogue (RTS)
• Serbian PM Brnabic: ''Thaci really needs to wake up and understand what reality is'' (media)
• Serbia will be exposed to strong pressure (B92, Tanjug)
• Dacic refutes news that Serbia ceased campaign to revoke recognitions of Kosovo (Radio KIM, Tanjug)
• Djuric: Fake news on ceasing de-recognition campaign meddling into Serbia’s elections (KoSSev)
• Kosovo PM will abolish measures on Serbian goods; Belgrade: Daily loss € 1 mill (N1, KoSSev)
• Prosecution in Gnjilane requests detention of person suspected of harassing KSF member (KoSSev)
• No new cases of Covid-19 infection in Serb-populated areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Fukuyama: Neither Serbia or Montenegro are close to EU (N1, Beta)

Opinion:

• A weak prime minister and a powerful president (Prishtina Insight)
• Tough love as a recipe for Europeanisation in the Western Balkans (emerging-europe.com)

International:

• EU concerned by US approach to Kosovo and Serbia (euobserver.com)

Humanitarian/Development: 

• EIB investing 11 mln euro in wastewater treatment project in Kosovo (seenews.com)
• Serbia applies for money from EU Solidarity Fund, Joksimovic says (N1)
• OpisMEDIJavanje: Integrity, not clicks (KoSSev)

 

 

Albanian Language Media

 

Hoti: Battling pandemic and economic recovery, main objectives (media)

Prime Minister of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti said today that the main focus of his government will be the fight of Covid-19 pandemic and the economic recovery.

In the meeting of the government, Hoti said that other objectives will include: "the strengthening of the state, advancement of democracy, fight against crime and corruption, economic development, the taking on of full responsibilities as government to push forward dialogue with Serbia in cooperation with the U.S. and EU by not allowing border changes and land swaps."

Hoti said that the new government will also focus its efforts on advancing European integration, implementation of European Reform Agenda, and on creating an atmosphere of cooperation with opposition parties on issues of vital interest for Kosovo.

Thaci meets Meta in Tirana (media)

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci met in Tirana today President of Albania Ilir Meta, Tirana-based media report.

Thaci said he travelled to Tirana for a friendly visit to meet political leaders there due to the recent developments both in Albania and in Kosovo. 

"Pleasure to meet today President of the Republic of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci. We expressed readiness to continue cooperation between our two countries in order to successfully overcome the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic," Meta wrote on social media.

He added that the two also discussed Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and underlined the importance of it continuing until full normalisation of relations is achieved. 

Haskuka: Hoti government will bring no good to Kosovo (Kosovapress)

Mayor of Prizren and senior member of the Vetevendosje Movement, Mytaher Haskuka, said in an interview with Kosovapress that a government of Kosovo that relies on the Serbian List can not be expected to bring anything good.

He said further that the government led by Avdullah Hoti does not represent the will of the citizens of Kosovo expressed on 6 October 2019 elections and that if it does anything to harm Kosovo, it will face backlash in the way of protests and political actions from Vetevendosje.

EU delivers ambulances, beds and medical equipment to Kosovo (media)

The European Union Office in Kosovo/EU Special Representative delivered today 10 ambulance vehicles, 100 hospital beds and other medical equipment to the Kosovo Ministry of Health in support of the health system. The shipment also includes 150 infusion pumps, 127 patient monitors, and 7,000 litres of hand disinfection substance, the EU Office in Kosovo said in a statement.

“I am pleased to have another delivery of medical equipment to Kosovo health sector, which we are confident will serve Kosovo people both during the COVID-19 pandemic but also in the years to come”, said Nataliya Apostolova, Head of the EU Office in Kosovo/EU Special Representative adding that in the coming weeks, the EU will also deliver 30 intensive care unit ventilators, additional medical equipment, more hospital beds, and 6,000 sets of COVID-19 testing kits, as part of the planned amount of EUR 5 million worth of emergency medical equipment and supplies.          

Ambassador Apostolova praised Kosovo authorities, medical and laboratory staff for their exemplary work during the COVID-19 pandemic. She thanked the Kosovo people for respecting restrictions and called on all to continue to be cautious and respect the recommendations of health experts.

https://bit.ly/2Y8aXDE

 

Serbian Language Media

 

Stoltenberg: NATO continues to contribute to security in Kosovo (media)

NATO continues to contribute to security in Kosovo through its mission KFOR, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in an extensive interview for Podgorica's daily Vijesti, on the occasion of three years since Montenegro joined that military alliance. 

He added that NATO also helps through the Alliance's support for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, under the auspices of the EU.

"This is crucial for Belgrade and Pristina, but also for regional peace and security. It is important that the agreements reached in this framework are fully implemented. In this regard, we count on both sides to show commitment and moderation," Stoltenberg said. 

Speaking about the security situation in the Western Balkans, Stoltenberg said that security and stability in that region are important for NATO, and they are key to peace and stability in Europe.

"This region has achieved a lot in recent years, but we are, of course, fully aware of the remaining challenges, including organized crime, unemployment, illegal economic activities and risks associated with harmful examples of certain rhetoric, which emphasize ethnic differences," said NATO Secretary General.

He emphasized that democracy, the rule of law, internal reforms and good neighborly relations are vital for the progress of everyone in the region.

"Since the late 1990s, our forces have helped maintain peace and stability in the Western Balkans. Our offices in Sarajevo, Belgrade and Skopje promote political dialogue and conduct practical cooperation with our partners," the NATO chief said.

He points out that the Alliance's policies in the region - including open door policies - aim to strengthen stability and build greater cooperation.

"We are determined to continue to help the countries of the region implement reforms. Their citizens, interstate cooperation, regional stability and the entire Euro-Atlantic family will benefit from this," Stoltenberg said.

He added that they would continue to play their role in contributing to security in the Western Balkans through the UN-mandated KFOR mission, which guarantees a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo.

It will continue to play its role by supporting the EU-sponsored dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and through the existing partnership framework of political dialogue and practical cooperation, which the Alliance has developed in recent years with important partners in the region, including BiH and Serbia, and in accordance with the requirements of those countries.

Brnabic, Fabrizi on new Pristina government, Lajcak’s role, dialogue (RTS)

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said she hopes Pristina would revoke all decisions that meant lack of economic cooperation, while the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sam Fabrizi said Brussels remains fully committed to reach a comprehensive normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

“The role of Lajcak in this regard is extremely significant. He works already, but from a distance, since the air lines are not yet operational,” Fabrizi said.

After meeting Fabrizi, Brnabic said they discussed, inter alia, establishment of the new government in Pristina and further steps, as she said, we expect and hope for, in order to continue the dialogue.

“I have welcomed the appointment of Miroslav Lajcak as an EU Special Envoy for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. President Vucic and I are in permanent contact with Lajcak, and I hope all decisions that mean lack of economic cooperation and prevent the free flow of goods and people would be revoked soon, so we can return to the dialogue, Brnabic said.

She also said no one thinks that Serbia would be able to become an EU member without reaching an agreement on normalization of relations with Pristina, adding it is too soon for a debate on what this agreement would look like.

“What does the agreement on normalization mean and what it would look like is still open to interpretations and a debate,” Brnabic said.

She said she understands the stance of the EU that it does not want to import open issues with the countries to become new members, adding it is also important for Serbia to have the issue with Pristina “somewhere and somehow closed and to work on the normalization of relations with Pristina.”

She underlined Belgrade is ready to talk, and it does not choose who to talk to, since the aim of the dialogue is to have better security of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and greater stability as well as wellbeing in the region.

Asked to comment on the statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Avdulah Hoti that he will be the chief negotiator in the future dialogue, Brnabic said the dialogue is on the level of the presidents currently.

“We are not among those who would choose who to talk or not to. We would talk to everybody, because our job is to talk, as only the talks and the dialogue could lead towards greater security of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and then to better quality of life in an entire region.”

Brnabic pointed out the dialogue was moved earlier to the level of presidents, by which Brussels smartly avoided everyday political obstructions or problems that could cause delays in the dialogue.

Fabrizi noted that the ‘status quo’ does not go in favor of Belgrade or Pristina either, adding it is an impression of the EU that the new government in Pristina understands the need to renew the dialogue, assessing that Belgrade demonstrates “strong commitment” to continue the negotiation.  

Serbian PM Brnabic: ''Thaci really needs to wake up and understand what reality is'' (media)

Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabic commented on Thaci's statement that he was optimistic "that Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac will join Kosovo without encroaching on the territory, because that is a historical right."

"All the years since I have been in the government, I really don't understand where his pretensions towards Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja came from, I don't know where he got that from," Brnabic told reporters after a meeting with the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sam Fabrizi.

"Do Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja perhaps belong to Kosovo, as much as to Belgrade? Maybe he has pretensions towards Budapest, or Brussels, maybe he thinks that this is also historical heritage… But that is his problem," the Prime Minister stated.

As she says, it would not be serious for her to comment on that, because, in her opinion, it would be the same as asking the French ambassador to comment if, for example, she said that Paris was Serbian.

"What can a man say and remain polite, correct and not use some harsher words?" Brnabic asked.

She also noticed that Albanians began to appropriate religious, cultural and historical monuments.

"But I really hope and believe and know that they have another tradition also and a rich history and culture and that they do not have to appropriate from others. I don't know why they are doing this to themselves, first. When you appropriate from others it seems like you're not proud of what you have. But I don't have to defend their culture more than they defend themselves," Brnabic said.

When asked what will be the attitude of Brussels towards Thaci's position not to participate in the negotiations that will be led by Lajcak, the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Sam Fabrizi, said:

"Thanks for asking, but I'm not commenting on the comments."

Serbia will be exposed to strong pressure (B92, Tanjug)

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic said that he won't deal with relations within the Albanian community, it is important for us to get guarantees for Serbs in Kosovo. 

"We are open for talks. Thaci did all this with the help of the United States and will always ask to talk in their presence. Serbia will always talk, but all those measures that destroyed the possibility of free access to goods and capital must be removed. When that has been done, we will be ready to talk", Vucic pointed out.

"I am not sure whether there will be different political aspirations, often pressures, I hear 100 times that we stop the derecognition campaign - we will do that when you stop the campaign of access to international organizations."

He said that he offered this from year to year, in order to protect the people in Kosovo.

"It's easy for us in Loznica or Belgrade, we don't live in Gorazdevac… We don't know how Albanians will treat them."

I do not know how Pristina aspires to be on the European path, yet, on the other hand, it will not talk to European representatives, he pointed out.

"You have to keep in mind that neither Germany nor France will change their position on the issue of Kosovo. The question is what we are going to do. We have to bear the brunt that we betrayed Kosovo, and we returned Kosovo to the table with a smart policy, but at the same time keeping the peace, bringing investors…"

"I don't think it will be easy to deal with the Kosovo issue. There are those who say it will be easy, let them think again." 

He pointed out that he expects great pressures regarding Kosovo, and that is why it is important that we get a strong government after the elections.

"It won't be easy for Serbia," Vucic added, and reiterated that Serbia's voice will have to be important in that process.

"We have no objections to the talks we had in the EU, as well as in the talks with Grenell. I always tried to get as much as possible in a peaceful way. If they stop with the requests for admission to Interpol and other organizations, we will stop with the derecognition campaign," Vucic said.

President Aleksandar Vucic stated today that Russia is a friendly country to Serbia and that the appointment of Yevgeny Primakov to the position of director of the "Russian Cooperation" Agency will not affect that cooperation.

"Russia is a friendly country to us, that's how it was and it will be such in the future. And none of the irresponsible politicians in Serbia can change that, nor anyone else," Vucic said when asked how he commented on Primakov's appointment, due to the alleged connection with the representatives of Serbian opposition. He said that Russia is much bigger than Serbia, both in terms of population and territory, and that it can appoint whoever it wants.

"They take care of their interests and we have nothing against anything or anyone, Vucic said, adding that it would be "crazy" for Serbia to influence Moscow's decisions. The media in Serbia state that in March last year, in the midst of anti-government demonstrations in Belgrade, Primakov offered Vucic to form a technical government with the leaders of the "Alliance for Serbia".

See at: https://bit.ly/3dw4Src

Dacic refutes news that Serbia ceased campaign to revoke recognitions of Kosovo (Radio KIM, Tanjug)

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic refuted the news report of Radio Free Europe saying that Serbia has agreed to cease its campaign to revoke recognitions of Kosovo, Radio KIM reports. After talking to the President Aleksandar Vucic, Dacic said the news report was “a gross lie.”

“For many years Serbia was saying it would cease a campaign to retract recognitions of Kosovo only if all others cease their campaigns for recognition of Kosovo and its membership in international organizations. Since that was not the case, Serbia did not cease its campaign to retract recognitions of Kosovo,” Dacic told Tanjug news agency.  

Djuric: Fake news on ceasing de-recognition campaign meddling into Serbia’s elections (KoSSev)

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija Director Marko Djuric refuted a news report of Radio Free Europe citing an unnamed EU official as saying that Serbia has agreed to cease its campaign to revoke recognitions of Kosovo to contribute to the atmosphere to renew the dialogue.

Earlier both Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic termed the news as fake and refuted it.

“I wish to know who the source of this fake news was and I am afraid, I cannot exclude this was about a direct foreign meddling into our elections,” Djuric said, adding he is concerned “that someone with such manipulations attempts to influence our elections”.

For four years Serbia has been requested to cease this campaign, and “Serbia’s response has always been we are ready for temporary suspension if Kosovo also gives up on applying for membership in international organizations.”

He recalled that Serbia secured 18 de-recognitions of Kosovo and prevented its membership in 13 international organizations, something Serbia is very proud of. 

Kosovo PM will abolish measures on Serbian goods; Belgrade: Daily loss € 1 mill (N1, KoSSev)

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdulah Hoti confirmed he would revoke the ban his predecessor Albin Kurti introduced on goods from Serbia which did not have “Republic of Kosovo” on declarations, KoSSev portal reports Friday.

He said that his coalition partners agreed with the decision, but fell short of specifying the date for the decision. “That will be done to open the way for the Brussels dialogue (between Belgrade and Pristina on the normalization of relations),” Hoti said. He also said he would remove all obstacles to the dialogue.

Hoti added that the international partners guaranteed the negotiations, but added that if the talks failed he would reinstate the reciprocal measures, for which, he said, Pristina would have the support of the partners.

Late on Thursday, Hoti said he would be Kosovo chief negotiator once the dialogue resumed. So far, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci led Pristina delegations and the Belgrade team was headed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Meanwhile, Serbian Minister Rasim Ljajic told N1 on Friday Kurti’s cabinet was the second dismissed because of trade barriers to the goods from Serbia, this time because of the reciprocal measures, while the former headed by Ramus Haradinaj lost October elections due to the 100 percent import tariffs. He added he believed Hoti would revoke the latest decision. Ljajic said that Serbia’s daily loss due to both taxes and new measures was about EUR one million.

See at: https://bit.ly/3gZlNo7

Prosecution in Gnjilane requests detention of person suspected of harassing KSF member (KoSSev)

Basic Prosecution in Gnjilane requested the Basic Court to impose a 30-day detention for a Serb, D.P. over suspicion that he has committed criminal offense “harassment” as per article 182 of the Kosovo Criminal Code against Z.S. member of KSF, also of Seriban nationality, KoSSev portal reports. 

As the prosecution said there was grounded suspicion that on May 4, 2020, suspect D.P. (of Serbian nationality) intentionally and in attempt to intimidate and disturb Z.S (of Serbian nationality as well), lieutenant of Kosovo Security Forces published on Facebook photo of KLA commander Ramush Haradinaj in a military uniform and Z.S. in a uniform and KSF flag. After that Z.S. as prosecution said, started receiving threats and messages insulting his and integrity of his family.

D.P. removed the post after one hour; however Z.S continued to receive threats.

D.P. is at the moment placed under 48-hours detention as per decision of the prosecutor, KoSSev portal reports. 

No new cases of Covid-19 infection in Serb-populated areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)

There were no new cases of Covid-19 infection registered in the Serb-populated areas in Kosovo over the last 24 hours, Crisis Committee of Mitrovica North announced, Kosovo-online portal reports.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic a total of 118 cases have been reported. Out of this number 106 persons have been cured, while ten persons have passed away.

Out of two active remaining cases, one is staying at the Clinical Hospital Center in Mitrovica North and the another one at the Clinical Center in Kragujevac.  

Fukuyama: Neither Serbia or Montenegro are close to EU (N1, Beta)

Yoshihiro Francis Fukuyama, a US political scientist, has said that in the current circumstances, neither Serbia nor Montenegro has a government qualified as democratic enough in respecting the rule of law, what are conditions for the European Union membership, the Beta news agency reports.

In an interview with the Podgorica Pobjeda daily, he said that Montenegro had not consolidated democracy and that President Milo Djukanovic had been in power for too long and was "a troublesome leader because he controls machinery for employing people loyal to (his) party."

"There is a lot of corruption in the country. Besides, I think there is a great concern about the spending of the Chinese finances of motorway construction. That motorway pushes Montenegro into a financial danger, and Djukanovic has brought many decisions himself," Fukuyama told the daily.

He added Montenegro needed a civil society of the people who wanted to mobilise a more liberal and organised country.

Fukuyama also said that Djukanovic presented himself as a good guy, and many of the wrong sides of his leadership had been well hidden.

"On the other hand, I think he is a troublesome leader because of the way he uses political power to disable real political competition," he said.

Regarding Serbia, Fukuyama said he thought "Serbia plays a role of being in line with West, promising it wants to join the EU, but at the same time courting with Russia and China, and I'm afraid it tends toward more authoritarian forces and have been far away from the EU in last years."  

https://bit.ly/2Mz2XpT

 

  

Opinion

 

A weak prime minister and a powerful president (Prishtina Insight)

By Donika Emini

The Hoti Government brings with it an emboldened president ready to resume duties in the dialogue and an emboldened Lista Srpska able to influence from within.

Kosovo has seen three different prime ministers in office within a year, speaking volumes about the level of political instability in a country stuck in the status quo, with no resolution to its frozen conflict with Serbia in sight.

The Hoti government, formed on 3 June, sets a new precedent in Kosovo, as it was established by the party that finished second in the last parliamentary election. 

Passing the mandate for the second placed party to take power may well be legal after the Constitutional Court created a solid legal basis for the Hoti Government to be formed. However, the decision of the Constitutional Court once again confirmed that the Constitution can be flexible to adapt to the needs of autocrats. 

While the debate over legality is seemingly closed now, the debate over the government’s legitimacy remains open, and rightly so. Its legitimacy is not only questioned with reference to the manner in which LDK wormed its way into power, but also due to the fact that this government has been formed with the help of active lobbying led by President Hashim Thaci. 

This has been explicitly revealed by MP Haxhi Shala, who was persuaded to vote for the Hoti Government the night before the voting took place. This is a concerning incident in its own right, but it also reveals the dependence this government has on Thaci, given his influence over certain members of the Assembly.

The half empty parliament – in absence of the MPs from Vetevendosje – and the unenthusiastic welcome the new government received as it began its mandate reflect the lack of support that the new prime minister will have in his mission to lead the country in its darkest hours.

The challenges that the new government faces are multi-faceted, starting from the fact that it barely has a majority, with just 61 votes in the 120 seat parliament supporting its formation. It also faces the dual opposition of Vetevendosje (the winning party at the election) and PDK (who governed for over a decade before committing itself to remain in opposition following the October 6 elections). 

These two things combined will make the functioning of the legislative and executive institutions very challenging or nearly impossible, and give immense power to individual MPs to use their vote as a bargaining chip against the government. 

The country is also facing pernicious political polarisation. The Hoti Government has to learn how to navigate such an extreme political environment in order to ensure full functionality of institutions.

The new government’s reliance on Lista Srpska can also cause issues. Created in the framework of the Brussels dialogue, Lista Srpska was designed to represent the Kosovo Serb community in the dialogue. However, the party has not only monopolized the political representation of local Serbs but has been utilized by President Aleksandar Vucic as an extended hand of Serbia within the Kosovo Government. 

See more at: https://bit.ly/3dAIfC9

Tough love as a recipe for Europeanisation in the Western Balkans (emerging-europe.com)

At the close of the Zagreb Summit in May, supporters of European Union enlargement, whether in the Western Balkans or within the Union itself, had reason to be happy: the EU perspective of the six, non-EU countries in Southeast Europe had once again been confirmed by the bloc’s leaders.

Beyond solemn declarations, the EU included Western Balkan states in a number of its Covid-19 measures, thus equating them with current members. The export restrictions placed on critical medical equipment were removed, and the six states were allowed to participate in the EU joint procurement of much-needed supplies. Brussels also offered significant financial assistance to help each state mitigate the consequences of the pandemic.

This, of course, followed the March decision by the European Council to start accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia. The Council had last October initially postponed this move because of a lack of consensus, prompting loud talk of a “historical mistake” and of quasi-irreversible Balkan disappointment and of facilitating the encroachment of unfriendly third powers.

We now await the European Commission, which is set to present its framework for the negotiations that will take place with Albania and North Macedonia to present to the European Council. This should be followed this autumn by a progress report for each country.

Sadly, the positive Council decision earlier this spring didn’t make headlines as Europe and the world were struggling with the pandemic. Still, it remains relevant. In hindsight, however, the October reaction seems somewhat exaggerated.

See more at: https://bit.ly/2Y7BCAu

 

 

 International

 

EU concerned by US approach to Kosovo and Serbia (euobserver.com)

EU countries have begun to rally round Germany in its opposition to a land-swap deal between Kosovo and Serbia, an EU official told press Thursday, amid German fears of enflaming ethnic tensions. Some US diplomats have backed the swap, while others said they had nothing against it. EU sources confirmed US Kosovo/Serbia envoy Richard Grenell had not yet spoken to his EU counterpart, Miroslav Lajčák, despite Lajčák's overtures.

https://bit.ly/2ADZXpC

 

 

Humanitarian/Development

 

EIB investing 11 mln euro in wastewater treatment project in Kosovo (seenews.com)

PRISTINA (Kosovo), June 4 (SeeNews) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) said it will invest 11 million euro ($12.3 million) in a wastewater management project in the municipality of Gjilan in Kosovo.

The project encompasses the construction of a wastewater treatment plant and related sewerage network that will provide improved and affordable access to water and wastewater services to more than 90,000 people, the bank said in a statement earlier this week.

The investment, EIB's first in wastewater and environmental protection in Kosovo, is part of the bank’s Economic Resilience Initiative aimed at improving vital infrastructure in the Western Balkans and fostering social and economic progress in the region. 

The project has also secured 10 million euro in co-financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and a 3.1 million euro grant from EU's Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).

See at: https://bit.ly/2Y0OZTf

Serbia applies for money from EU Solidarity Fund, Joksimovic says (N1)

Serbian Minister for European Integrations and the national coordinator of IPA funds Jadranka Joksimovic said Belgrade would apply for aid from the European Union’s Solidarity Fund to help it cope with the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, BETA news agency reported.

She added that the possibility to apply for additional money was proof of the EU solidarity with Serbia’s people and “a concrete benefit from the accession process.” Belgrade applies for new aid under the same conditions as an EU member state.  

If the aid is approved, the money will cover a part of the expenses Serbia has had in the last four months in preventing the epidemic from spreading, the protection of medical staff, and securing better conditions for treating patients as well as helping the most vulnerable groups.

“The European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) was set up to respond to major natural disasters and express European solidarity to disaster-stricken regions within Europe. The Fund was created as a reaction to the severe floods in Central Europe in the summer of 2002. Since then, it has been used for 80 disasters covering a range of different catastrophic events including floods, forest fires, earthquakes, storms and drought. Twenty four different European countries have been supported so far for an amount of over 5 billion €,” the European Commission said on its website.

Serbia used EUR 60.2 million from the EUSF in 2015 to cope with the damage from massive floods.

See at: https://bit.ly/30a6Klz

OpisMEDIJavanje: Integrity, not clicks (KoSSev)

Rapid dissemination of information, but also disinformation, the requirement to cover a wide range of topics, and political influence on the work of the media are some of the journalistic challenges in the age of digital technology, Zana Cimili warned. The responsibility for preventing false news, however, also lies on the readers, she said.

In the latest episode of the media literacy campaign “OpisMEDIJavanje,” N1 correspondent from Pristina, Zana Cimili, spoke about the future of journalism in the digital world.

As technology developed, the dissemination of information also accelerated, at the same time, the space for the rapid dissemination of disinformation was created, and thus the responsibility for verifying information is even more pronounced.

„It is very important to verify the source of information. This is what makes a journalist or a media outlet more professional. Often, online media publish a sensational headline just for the sake of clicks, while the news content is completely different. So, it is a fight for clicks,“ warned Cimili.

See more at: https://bit.ly/3dCEz2L