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1. Why Kosovo institutions must urgently enhance the security of its waters? Building critical infrastructure resilience

Author:
Jon Limaj and Mentor Vrajolli
Publication Date:
12-2024
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
In recent years, threats to critical infrastructure have increased. This is primarily due to growing global threats and the digitalization of key operational processes, including those in the water sector. Consequently, the Government of Kosovo, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has placed significant emphasis on ensuring resilience in this sector. While Kosovo has legislative frameworks in place on protecting critical infrastructure, including the Water Law and Law on Critical Infrastructure, there are gaps in implementation. Furthermore, there is a lack of full alignment with the EU Water Framework Directive. Comprehensive integration and legislative amendments are necessary for effective water management.
Topic:
Security, Water, Infrastructure, and Resilience
Political Geography:
Europe and Kosovo

2. Two Opposite Viewpoints: Overview on How Citizens See Kosovar Bilateral Relations with Serbia and with Albania

Author:
Dea Fetiu and Mentor Vrajolli
Publication Date:
07-2022
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
This report examines the perception of Kosovar citizens on bilateral relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and Kosovo and Albania. The report is divided into three chapters: elaborating the findings on citizens’ perceptions regarding ethnic distancing with the two countries, bilateral relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and bilateral relations between Kosovo and Albania.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Bilateral Relations, Public Opinion, and Citizenship
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, Serbia, Balkans, and Albania

3. Kosovo’s regional cooperation and EU Integration - Kosovo citizen’s perspective

Author:
Plator Avdiu and Mentor Vrajolli
Publication Date:
03-2021
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
In its tenth edition, KSB has taken a regional dimension and marks the first edition of the Western Balkans Security Barometer (WBSB) implemented simultaneously in Kosovo and Serbia in September-October 2020. 1 This report examines the perceptions of Kosovar respondents on the following issues: i) Kosovo’s bilateral cooperation, cross-border cooperation and regional security, and ii) attitudes of Kosovars towards the EU membership process.
Topic:
Security, Regional Cooperation, Bilateral Relations, and European Union
Political Geography:
Eastern Europe, Kosovo, and Serbia

4. Public perceptions towards public safety, internal and external threats

Author:
Shpat Balaj and Mentor Vrajolli
Publication Date:
03-2020
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
The first chapter of the report presents the perceptions on how safe citizens’ feel in Kosovo and their respective communities do. Moreover, the public safety chapter includes the citizens’ perception on different issues that potentially endanger the community and how much of a threat the citizens’ perceive those issues. On the other hand, the second chapter consists of citizens’ perceptions on what are the key internal and external threats to the national security of Kosovo and presents their opinion on how much of a threat do several issues present to the security of Kosovo. The key findings of this report are: Respondents feel safe in their immediate communities. However, the results show a tendency for the feeling of insecurity to slightly increase as respondents expand from their immediate communities; When asked to identify a threat posed to the community without stating pre-defined options of what the potential threats would be, the majority of respondents (43 percent) declared that there are no threats at all at their respective communities; When presented with pre-defined options of different phenomena that potentially endanger the community, 64 percent of the respondents believe that the emigration of Kosovo citizens’ is a high threat or a very high threat for the community; When asked to identify the key internal national security threats, without pre-defined options on what the potential threats would be, 24 percent of the respondents listed corruption/nepotism as the key internal threat; When presented with pre-defined options of different phenomena that potentially endanger the national security of Kosovo, 88 percent of respondents share the opinion that unemployment is a high threat or very high threat for the national security of Kosovo; In regard to external national security threats, 44 percent of the respondent believe that Serbia is the largest external security threat for Kosovo.
Topic:
Security, Public Opinion, Threat Perception, and Public Safety
Political Geography:
Eastern Europe and Kosovo

5. Kosovo Security Barometer: Citizens' perceptions on violent extremism

Author:
Mentor Vrajolli
Publication Date:
07-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
The report measured citizens’ trust towards security institutions, underlining the importance of understanding the national experts to prevent and combat violent extremism. However, the results showed that only Kosovo Police gains sufficient trust while citizens’ trust towards the judicial bodies and the Government in general continues to bear extremely low trust. Finally, the report also underlined that when it comes to violent extremism, there is a low frequency of communication between citizens and respective municipal institutions. Likewise, it highlighted the potentially important role of media when it comes to developing the citizens’ mind-set regarding the violent extremism.
Topic:
Security, Public Opinion, Violent Extremism, Institutions, and Survey
Political Geography:
Eastern Europe and Kosovo

6. Private Security in Practice: Case Studies from Southeast Europe

Author:
Franziska Klopfer, Nelleke van Amstel, Ola Çami Arjan Dyrmishi, Rositsa Dzhekova, Donika Emini, Anton Kojouharev, Marko Milošević, Žarko Petrović, and Mentor Vrajolli
Publication Date:
01-2016
Content Type:
Case Study
Institution:
Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF)
Abstract:
Why and how should private security be regulated? A group of researchers from Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Serbia and Switzerland has been examining these questions as part of a multi-year project called the Private Security Research Collaboration Southeast Europe (“PSRC”) 1 . The interest of the state in interfering with the activities of private security companies is twofold: first, to ensure that basic pillars of the modern democratic state such as the protection of human rights and the democratic order are not threatened. Second, because the stability of the state and the happiness and prosperity of its citizens also depend on factors such as functioning security and economy. In order to better target its regulation of private security, it would therefore be important for the state to know how private security companies (PSCs) impact on a country’s human rights situation, the democratic order, a functioning security and (to a lesser extent) economy. For Private Security in Practice: Case studies from Southeast Europe the PSRC researchers assembled eight case studies that explore the impact that private security has on security, human rights and the democratic order in four Southeast European countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo and Serbia. Since regulation should not only limit the negative impact but also foster the positive contribution that private security can make, the authors specifically looked at how challenges posed by PSCs could be avoided and how opportunities can be seized.
Topic:
Security, Governance, Law Enforcement, and Weapons
Political Geography:
Geneva, Europe, Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Albania

7. Kosovo Security Barometer - Sixth Edition

Author:
Mentor Vrajolli
Publication Date:
12-2016
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 and justice institutions. It also measures the public perception on the internal and external security threats to Kosovo. The KSB marks one of the largest and rather first initiatives designed, implemented, and communicated by a local think tank in Kosovo. KCSS has no political constraints in communicating the findings and messages. Finally, the KSB is unique for its methodological approach, such as the unique tailoring of the quantitative and qualitative methods aiming to offer realistic results on public perceptions towards security-related issues.
Topic:
Security, Public Opinion, and Survey
Political Geography:
Eastern Europe and Kosovo

8. 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

9. Assessment of Private Security Companies in Kosovo

Author:
Florian Qehaja, Mentor Vrajolli, and Skender Perteshi
Publication Date:
02-2009
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
Private Security Companies (PSC) are expanding industry. One of the significant changes in the security issues has to do with the emergence of the PSC’s in the world. The range of services provided by PSC’s varies from those engaged as private detectives, to guarding the transport of valuables, security in shopping and business centers, airports, as well as nuclear and military facilities. In the period of post-conflict, the PSC emerged rapidly even in Kosovo. Their role by some has been considered as important. However, in the other side there are still uncertainties about the status of PSC’s in Kosovo. Based on some surveys, very few in Kosovo are aware about the competencies of the private security guards. Furthermore, the role of PSC’s in the security sector is becoming more important day to day. There is no doubt that the process of Security Sector Building (SSB) in Kosovo consist on the rapid emergence of this private security industry. It is estimated that the private security industry in Kosovo makes up more than 3000 security guards increasing day to day. Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) is implementing a project “Assessment of the Private Security Companies Performance”. The project foresees the draft of a assessment paper on the topic and organizing a roundtable by inviting the stakeholders (citizens, MP’s, international community and PSC’s representatives).
Topic:
Security, Armed Forces, Private Sector, and Private Security Companies (PSC)
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans