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6201. Kosovo Security Barometer Special Edition Public Perceptions on Kosovo’s Foreign Policy and Political Dialogue with Serbia

Author:
Donika Emini
Publication Date:
01-2015
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
The survey was carried out in the second half of October 2014, through face-to-face interviews conducted around Kosovo. The national sample from which the research was drawn featured 1,101 households, following a representative sample of the population above 18 years old in Kosovo. The ethnic breakdown of the interviewed respondents used for the purposes of this edition of the KSB was: 87.92 percent K-Albanian, 9.08 percent K-Serbian, and 3 percent others (Bosnian 1.0 percent, Turks 1.0 percent, and RAE 1.0 percent). Perceptions presented in this report are a summary of information gathered from respondents and it only demonstrates how people perceive these institutions. Hence, this report does not represent a conclusive assessment of the quality of the work of the institutions subject to this study.
Topic:
Security, Foreign Policy, Politics, Public Opinion, Survey, and Dialogue
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans

6202. Security Vetting

Author:
Robert Muharremi
Publication Date:
03-2015
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
Security clearance process is among the most important pillars of the security sector in the country. However, despite that we are dealing with a new system of verification, it is compromised and greatly challenged because of the political implications, the clan Individual decisions to grant or denial of a security clearance for civil servants and police personnel and intelligence. As a result, the report identifies shortcomings in the implementation of the Law on Classification of Information and Security Clearances and weaknesses in defining the decision to reject the security permissions.
Topic:
Intelligence, Police, Civil Servants, Vetting, and Security Clearance
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans

6203. Report inquiring into the causes and consequences of Kosovo citizens’ involvement as foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq

Author:
Shpend Kursani
Publication Date:
04-2015
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
This report also addressed the sources of extremism in Kosovo, as well as inszed the institutional approach in Kosovo in terms of combating extremism in Kosovo and were offered specific recommendations in order to address the phenomenon of extremism / radicalism in Kosovo. The report is based on dozens of interviews with all relevant stakeholders, state institutions, religious, including dozens of field visits to the persons directly involved in the conflict and their families, as well as various literature on the issue of extremism and other statistical information.
Topic:
Violent Extremism, Citizenship, Institutions, and Foreign Fighters
Political Geography:
Iraq, Europe, Kosovo, Balkans, and Syria

6204. Destination NATO: Kosovo’s Alternatives towards NATO Membership

Author:
Plator Avdiu
Publication Date:
05-2015
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
The report addresses key challenges and existing complex relations between the Kosovo institutions and NATO. KCSS’ research has highlighted that the membership process of Kosovo towards NATO is challenged by external and internal impediments. Kosovo is the only country in the region of the Western Balkans left out of the NATO enlargement process. Furthermore, the country has not established any official or contractual cooperation and relations with NATO. This is due to non-recognition of Kosovo by four NATO member countries, NATO’s neutral stance towards the state of Kosovo since its Declaration of Independence on 17 February 2008 as well as NATO’s commitment that its peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR) to operate within the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. On the other hand, until recently neither the Kosovo institutions have not demonstrated readiness and practical commitment with respect to NATO integration. From 2008 to 2014, Kosovo has not indicated a firm political will that demands the commencement of official cooperation with NATO. The Kosovo policymakers have shown only declarative commitments as to Euro-Atlantic integration, whereas membership of Kosovo in NATO only became a priority for the Kosovo institutions in 2014. Additionally, Kosovo should undertake the necessary reforms related to establishing better cooperation and coordination of all institutions involved in NATO’s integration process.
Topic:
Security, Defense Policy, NATO, Treaties and Agreements, and Regional Security
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans

6205. Trends of Citizens’ Trust Towards the Security and Justice Institutions in Kosovo

Author:
Mentor Vrajolli and Përparim Kryeziu
Publication Date:
09-2015
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
The structure of this paper is composed of four sessions: first section elaborates general trends of citizens’ trust towards security and justice institutions (this section also contains subsections where the general trends for each specific institution are analyzed separately); the second section analyses rural/urban trends of citizens’ trust towards security and justice institutions; the third section analyses gender trends of citizens’ trust towards security and justice institutions, and the fourth section ethnic based perspectives. The paper contains also a list several recommendations is provided, based on our analysis of the findings.
Topic:
Security, Citizenship, Institutions, Justice, and Trust
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans

6206. Departure to the EU Member States: causes and consequences of Kosovo’s recent migration

Author:
Plator Avdiu
Publication Date:
10-2015
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
According to official statistical data, it is estimated that around 75,000 Kosovo citizens have migrated to the European Union, mainly to Hungary and Germany through Serbia, only from October 2014 to March 2015. Given that this number represents those who have actually officially sought asylum, the total number of migrants who continue to reside illegally is much higher than 75,000, As a result, during this period Kosovo ranked among the top five countries from where asylum applications were made in at least one of the European Union Member States. Irregular migration from Kosovo presents yet another challenge for Kosovo, since the European Union’s stance is that the number of Kosovo asylum applications to the European Union needs to fall before any recommendation can be made in regards to the visa-free regime for Kosovo. Through this paper, Kosovar Centre for Security Studies, aims to provide reasons behind Kosovo’s recent migration flow towards the European countries. Accordingly, our research indicates that there are three main reasons behind recent wave of migration from Kosovo: (1) lack of socio-economic perspective in Kosovo; (2) smuggling of migrants, and (3) the absence of cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of Kosovo and Serbia, that is to say between the Kosovo Police and the Police of Serbia. Apart from economic factors which are seen to be the main reasons for migration, a sharp surge in the number of migrants to the EU is considered to have occurred as a result of networks of smugglers operating in Kosovo and Serbia that were smuggling migrants in order to take them to the European Union through Serbian legal and illegal routes. Furthermore, there was no police cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia to combat organized crime networks, which could prevent illegal migration.
Topic:
Migration, European Union, Smuggling, and Asylum
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans

6207. Migration: Challenging visa liberalization for Kosovo

Author:
Donika Emini
Publication Date:
11-2015
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
This paper aims to demonstrate the extent to which the recent migratory flows from Kosovo challenged its visa liberalization process in both the technical and political aspects. While the technical aspect includes repatriation of the returned persons in Kosovo, the political aspect relies on the attitude of the EU countries towards Kosovo when granting their opinion on the visa liberalization process for Kosovo. The end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015 have witnessed a rather large wave of Kosovo migrants heading towards the EU countries through the so called “Western Balkan route” mainly via Serbia aiming to reach the EU Schengen zone. The flux of migrants raised a lot of questions about the implications for Kosovo's EU perspective. According to the authorities in Prishtina, roughly 50,000 (Kosovo Intelligence Agency, 2015) people left Kosovo from November 2014 to April 2015, although data published by the Eurostat count roughly 75,000 persons (Eurostat, 2015) aiming to reach the EU countries, in most of the cases Germany. Correspondingly, during this period, citizens of Kosovo topped the list of asylum seekers in Europe with roughly 74,755 applications, followed by Syrians with and Afghans (Eurostat, 2015).
Topic:
Migration, European Union, Asylum, Visa, and Liberalization
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans

6208. Kosovo Security Barometer - Fifth Edition

Author:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Publication Date:
12-2015
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
The Kosovo Security Barometer (KSB) is a specific programme of Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) designed to serve as an annual publication. The primary focus of the KSB is to measure the public opinion perceptions towards security institutions. It also measures the public perception on the internal and external security threats to Kosovo. The survey was carried out in the second half of October 2015, through face-to-face interviews conducted around Kosovo.The national sample from which the research was drawn featured 1070 households, following a representative sample of the population above 18 years old in Kosovo. Perceptions presented in this report are a summary of information gathered from respondents and it only demonstrates how people perceive these institutions. Hence, this report does not represent a conclusive assessment of the quality of the work of the institutions subject to this study.
Topic:
Security, Public Opinion, Institutions, and Survey
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans

6209. 'Roma' Policy Making: Key Challenges and Possible Solutions

Author:
Zora Popova
Publication Date:
01-2015
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Abstract:
Acknowledging the need for an integrated and targeted approach towards the inclusion of the largest European minority, the EU has moved forward over the past decade in its efforts to develop and launch policies and programmes aiming at bringing about a positive change to the situation of Roma. Despite the significant funds allocated for the implementation of initiatives and strategies, no significant impact has been accounted throughout Europe over the years. The current policy brief looks at some factors that appear to be key impediments to the development of a sustainable and successful policy and suggests steps for overcoming the identified problems.
Topic:
Minorities, Ethnicity, Discrimination, Conflict, and Identity
Political Geography:
Europe

6210. Instigations of Separatism in the Baltic States

Author:
Mindaugas Kuklys and Raul Carstocea
Publication Date:
06-2015
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Abstract:
This Issue Brief deals with some recent attempts to instigate and foment separatism in certain regions of all three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Although these attempts would appear at first glance to be spontaneous, we argue that certain recurring elements and links between them seem to indicate that they are rather coordinated actions showing a certain level of organization. In turn, these recent cases have direct bearing on the relationship between minorities and majorities in the Baltic states after the Russian annexation of Crimea and the increasingly strong promotion of the Eurasian Union initiated by Russia. Despite the differences between Estonia and Latvia on the one hand – which have large Russian-speaking minorities continuing to face integration challenges – and Lithuania – with a relatively small and well-integrated Russian minority –, these recent calls for separatism are manifest in all three countries under consideration.
Topic:
Minorities, Ethnicity, Discrimination, Separatism, and Identity
Political Geography:
Europe and Baltic States