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reuters/Hazir Reka

Change of Government in Kosovo: Constitutional Court Paves the Way

According to the Constitutional Court ruling, a new government led by Avdullah Hoti of the LDK is expected to be formed swiftly

Following the overthrow of the previous government by a vote of no confidence on 25 March 2020 initiated by the coalition partner Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), there has long been uncertainly about further political developments on the Kosovo field. Although on 30 April President Hashim Thaçi had mandated Avdullah Hoti of the LDK to form a government, the legitimacy of the mandate was however called into question and brought before the Constitutional Court by members of the Vetëvendosje (VV), the party belonging to the toppled Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The legal blockade for the formation of a new government has now been eliminated with the final decision taken by the Constitutional Court: late in the evening on 28 May, the Constitutional Court ruled that President Thaçi acted lawfully when he gave Hoti the task of forming the government.

REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Balkans: Geopolitics in Times of Corona

Foreign Aid and Public Relations Work and Their Perception in South East Europe

The coronavirus pandemic is a stress test for global value chains, national health systems and the resilience of societies – with no clear outcome. Against the backdrop of the crisis, we are also witnessing a geopolitical, systemic competition to win the hearts and minds of states and societies and to dominate global narratives. True to the motto that every crisis harbours an opportunity, the People´s Republic of China and the Russian Federation in particular are striving to gain sympathies in selected countries through rapid aid and its propagandistic staging, so as to highlight the superiority of their own systems and thus to expand their soft power. It would be naive to assume that their actions are guided solely by humanitarian considerations and international solidarity. What´s more, they are applying illegitimate methods such as fake news and disinformation campaigns as well.

AgronBeqiri / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Regierung im Kosovo zerbrochen: Misstrauensvotum in Zeiten von Corona

Regierungskoalition der ungleichen Partner Vetëvendosje und Demokratische Liga des Kosovo durch Misstrauensvotum zu Fall gebracht – Handlungsfähigkeit der Exekutive in Gefahr

Über den von der konservativen LDK initiierten und von 42 Abgeordneten unterzeichneten Misstrauensantrag gegen die eigene Regierung wurde am Abend des 25. März 2020 nach einer 12-stündigen Marathonsitzung abgestimmt. 82 Abgeordnete stimmten gegen die von Ministerpräsident Albin Kurti (VV) angeführte Regierung, 32 Parlamentarier sprachen ihm das Vertrauen aus, einer enthielt sich. Die Koalition der ungleichen Partner, der linksnationalistischen VV und der Mitte-Rechts-Partei LDK, ist damit nach nur 52 Tagen zerbrochen. Inmitten der Corona-Krise steht im Kosovo die Handlungsfähigkeit der Exekutive zur Disposition. Nur wenige Stunden nach der Abstimmung wurde Kurtis Gegenspieler Avdullah Hoti (LDK) von der Position des ersten stellvertretenden Premierministers enthoben.

Peace Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia: Opportunities and Challenges

Since 2011, when the dialogue on the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, facilitated by the European Union, began, ideas have been circulated and a series of debates have been held on the possibility of reaching a peace agreement in the form of a legally binding document. Such a stance has been increasingly taking place in the context of media debates, official statements by state leaders of Kosovo and Serbia, and more recently, the European Union and the United States. This study sheds light on current debates on the possibility of finalizing this dialogue through a binding agreement of both countries, which would be binding and implemented under the auspices of the international community and would serve as a platform for a lasting and durable solution to all disputes between the two countries.

International Politics and Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue: Perceptions of Kosovo Citizens

The purpose of this edition of the survey is to provide data and results on public perceptions of Kosovar citizens for the three following aspects: 1. International politics and international actors, 2. Kosovo's foreign policy and international position and 3. The Kosovo-Serbia dialogue process

Commitments from the 'Berlin Process' on Rule of Law and Good Governance

PREPARATION FOR AGENDA “BERLIN PLUS”

This study focuses on the obligations of the region, and more specifically those of Kosovo, in the field of rule of law and good governance. Kosovo will face leaders of European Union countries at the Berlin Plus Agenda Summits. What will be on the minds of every European leader is what Kosovo and each of the Western Balkan countries have done for the obligations they have assumed in the Berlin Process since 2014.

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN KOSOVO

The Investment Climate, Potential and Barriers

The aim of the research is to raise public awareness on the present state of FDI and its significance by analyzing the barriers that foreign investors face and by launching a broad based debate on the problems currently faced by FDI inflows in Kosovo as well as on policy measures to overcome them and subsequent precautionary measures (post-investment refers to post investment services) for existing investors in order to maintain and expand their investment (re-investments).

Gender-Based Legislative Review and Oversight

GUIDE FOR KOSOVO ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

This guide seeks to contribute to the information, awareness and training of MPs to include the gender perspective in the scrutiny of laws before them. However, in order to perform this task properly, the Assembly of Kosovo needs to be prepared to provide assistance and information on gender sensitive laws. It is also necessary for the Government and institutes for statistics and research to provide relevant gender dis-aggregated data in different fields, which will be incorporated into Kosovo legislation.

Foreign Investor Manual

This investors manual aims to provide basic informations about investments procedures and possibilities in Kosovo. Manual was written by Sytrime Dervisholli, head of Trade Department at Ministry of Trade and Industry Kosovo.

The influence of external actors in the Western Balkans

A map of geopolitical players

The aim of this report is to look closely at the activities of external actors in the Western Balkans and to describe their function and role, intentions and interests, and the resources at their disposal. It also considers local and regional perceptions and sensitivities and evaluates the involvement of these external actors from a European and German perspective. This report forms part of our wide range of activities and projects that aim the integration of the Western Balkan states into the European Union and promote dialogue on foreign and security policy issues in Germany.