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Kosovo has won diplomatic recognition by 75 countries since declaring independence in 2008, including the U.S. and 22 of 27 European Union member-states. Kosovo's democratic transition, begun in earnest after the NATO-Serbian conflict in 1999, continues as Kosovars assume direct responsibility over governing institutions and political processes. Early parliamentary elections in December 2010 returned Hashim Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo to power but saw widespread fraud that precipitated re-votes through January along with calls for election reform. EU-managed dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade on technical bilateral issues shows some signs of progress, even as a de facto separation of Kosovo’s Serb-dominated northern municipalities continues. Serbs and other minority groups elsewhere are increasingly participating in Kosovo’s political system.
Kosovo has three essential tasks in its democratic transition: developing key political institutions, such as parliament, and reforming political processes, in particular elections; ensuring Serb and other ethnic minority political representation; and connecting citizens—in particular young people as Kosovo’s largest demographic—across ethnic, geographic and partisan lines.
NDI's Democracy Support Programs
Building on a decade of USAID-funded assistance, NDI is contributing to Kosovo’s democratic transition in the three above areas. NDI is helping Albanian, Serb and non-Serb political parties on policy and platform development, internal decision-making and democratic election conduct. Inclusion of young people and youth-oriented policies has been a particularly salient result of this work as roughly 60 percent of Kosovars are under 25 years of age.
- Regional political party initiative»
- Liberal parties in the Balkans plot shared course toward the future»
- Center-right political party youth leaders gather from across the Balkans to form political network»
The Institute is building nonpartisan election monitoring capacity in supporting Democracy in Action (DiA), a coalition of civic groups that observed the 2010 parliamentary elections. With its election partners, NDI is supporting new parliamentary committees as they spearhead public discussion on needed changes to the election code to deter fraudulent activity in future elections.
- Kosovo elections peaceful, challenges remain»
- Pre-election statement stresses code of conduct in Kosovo»
NDI is strengthening parliament’s legislative research capacity, improving its committee-based oversight of government performance, creating entry points for civil society into the legislative process, refining information management systems and promoting better management of legislative staff. NDI support to the Group of Women Deputies in parliament has resulted in new laws, including enhanced provisions for maternity leave in Kosovo’s labor law.
- Women in politics mean tangible gains for democracy»
- Kosovar women parliamentarians lead the fight against domestic violence and engage citizens in debate on gender issues»
- Kosovars celebrate Democracy Day with greater citizen engagement»
- Newly independent Kosovo continues to transition to democracy»
- Assembly of Kosovo improves transparency, decides to publish recorded votes»
- New office aids dialogue between Kosovo MPs and citizens»
- New mandate, new opportunities: evaluation of the work of the Assembly of Kosovo and recommendations for further development»
- NDI supports House Democracy Partnership in sharing good practice»
- Assembly of Kosovo: Public Hearing Manual
- Regional parliamentary initiative»
NDI is encouraging political participation among Kovosar youth—the country’s largest demographic. With National Endowment for Democracy support, NDI is helping young people in the divided northern city of Mitrovica to reach across ethnic lines through community projects and issue debates.
- Supporting tolerance and leadership among youth in southern Serbia and Kosovo»
- Emerging political and civic leaders gather in Belgrade»
- Regional youth tolerance»
Contact Information
For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:
Pristina
Laura Nichols, Resident Director
lnichols@ndi.org
Washington, D.C.
Ana Bjelogrlic, Program Officer
anab@ndi.org
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Pictured Above: Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi with high school students at an Assembly open house organized with NDI on International Democracy Day.
