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Kosovans risk perils of roads, forests and criminals in chase for better life in EU (The Guardian)

For the thousands of Kosovans who have left their country for Hungary in recent months, Vila Lira has stood as poetic reminder of the opportunities and risks of trying to sneak into the European Union. The name of this restaurant and hotel complex in Palic, northern Serbia, resembles “Freedom Villa” in Albanian – a nod to its clientele’s hopes for a better future outside of their impoverished and isolated home country.

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Kosovo's joy now despair on anniversary of independence (AP)

by NEBI QENA, Associated Press - 17 February 2015

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Jubilant throngs gathered around gigantic letters spelling "NEWBORN," when Kosovo declared independence from Serbia seven years ago. Today, there's a new national symbol: The bus stop where hundreds of people gather every day to flee a country they've given up on.

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Kosovo FM Thaci hopeful for future of his country (Today's Zaman)

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi has stressed that stability can only come to the Balkans after Serbia formally recognizes the independence of Kosovo, but added that Kosovo and Serbia must move forward to normalize their relations. In an exclusive interview with Today's Zaman on the anniversary of Kosovo's declaration of independence on Feb. 17, 2008, Thaçi said: “We cannot forget what was done in 1999, nor can the Balkans be fully stable until Serbia formally recognizes the independence of Kosovo.

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Despite the agreement on judiciary opening of the first chapter still pending (Politika)

Atmosphere in the European Commission indicates on a dose of discomfort there because nothing important took place between Serbia and the EU ever since of January 2014, said paper’s source familiar with the Brussels ‘affairs. According to the source, similar feeling is shared by most of the member states, but ‘nothing is happening’ still.

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Yee: Kosovo to combat corruption and organized crime (VOA)

The United States Deputy Assistant Secretary, Hoyt Yee, told Voice of America, that Kosovo needs to be more effective in the fight against organized crime and corruption, in order to facilitate economic development that would prevent irregular migration. Yee also said that special court for war crimes would help Kosovo to gain a better reputation in the international community.

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Kosovo not to be a condition for the opening of the first chapter (Danas)

The upper house of Germany’s parliament, the Bundesrat, called for an early opening of the first chapter in the negotiations on Serbia's membership in the EU without direct conditionality with the process progress in resolving the issue of Kosovo, according to a document in which Danas had access to. According to the findings of Danas, the adoption of such a proposal initiated the province of Baden-Wuerttemberg, which recently visited the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.

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EU Office in Kosovo allocates funds for civil society (Koha)

The European Union Office in Kosovo has allocated funds at the value of two million euros for civil society organizations. At the meeting that was organized by the Kosovo Foundation for Civil Society (KCSF) on Wednesday, it was announced that more than 100 civil society organizations and NGOs have applied for different projects that are in compliance with goals and policies of the European Union for Kosovo. The head of the EU Office in Kosovo, Samuel Zbogar, said that the work of civil society is very important.

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Serbia tries to stop massive migrant exodus to EU (AP)

Serbian security forces stepped up patrols and deployed an elite unit Wednesday on its border with Hungary, trying to halt a torrent of migrants that has triggered alarm in many European Union countries. The last few months have seen a massive exodus of mostly Kosovo Albanians fleeing poverty and unemployment in search for a better life in the European Union.

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