Representatives of civil society and academia from Serb communities in Kosovo warned today that the announced strict implementation of Kosovo’s Law on Foreigners could lead to the collapse of the education and healthcare systems available to the Serb population.
In an open appeal to the Quint, EU, and OSCE ambassadors, they called for an urgent moratorium on the law’s enforcement, stressing that its application in an unregulated legal framework would endanger thousands of students, professors, and healthcare workers, including internally displaced persons. They also requested a thorough review of the legislation.
On the same day Kosovo institutions shut down the Serbian Pension and Disability Insurance Fund and the Health Insurance Fund, they also announced the enforcement of the Law on Vehicles, which effectively bans driving with power-of-attorney documents, and started a campaign to implement another law – the Law on Foreigners.
This specific law requires “foreign nationals” planning to stay in Kosovo for more than three days to register with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This measure particularly affects the Serb community — especially those without Kosovo-issued documents. Students, medical staff, university employees, tourists, and residents who have long been unable to obtain Kosovo papers would all be subject to its provisions.
According to Serb NGOs and academics, the enforcement of the law would paralyze institutions vital to the Serb community:
“We warn that these services are currently jeopardized indirectly through legal provisions that, in an unregulated framework, produce harmful consequences. The strict implementation of the Law on Foreigners stipulates residence permits tied to accredited institutions.
Given the unresolved accreditation status of the University in Mitrovica and healthcare institutions at all levels, this would prevent thousands of students, professors, and healthcare workers of various ethnic backgrounds (Serbs, Bosniaks, Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians) from Serbia and Kosovo from continuing their work and studies.
Many are displaced persons from Kosovo already facing administrative obstacles in obtaining Kosovo documents. In practice, such measures would bring education and healthcare institutions vital to the Serb community to a complete standstill, even affecting citizens with regulated residence in Kosovo.”
The appeal further stresses that “very little time separates us from such a scenario” and that “the consequences would be irreversible.”
Civil society and academic representatives urged Quint, EU, and OSCE ambassadors to act decisively by demanding a moratorium until the law is reviewed for compliance with international human rights standards. They also requested that the legislation be referred to international mechanisms such as the Venice Commission for assessment.
Signatories of the initiative:
Center for Affirmative Social Actions – CASA; New Social Initiative – NSI; Institute for Territorial Economic Development – Inter; Informal Group of Professors of the University of Pristina with temporary headquarters in North Mitrovica – Proaktiv; Aktiv; Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture – ACDC; Center for Peace and Tolerance – CPT; Women Entrepreneurs Association Avenija – UPŽ; Gračanica Online; Human Center Mitrovica; Center for Social Initiatives; Forum for Development and Multiethnic Cooperation – FDMC; NGO Factor; NGO Institute for Public Research; NGO Herc; Sports Association for Physical Education; Gračanica Youth Council; Youth Initiative Kuzmin; Children’s Cultural Center Gračanica; Center for Transition and Mediation; NGO Women’s Rights; Communication for Social Development – CSD; NGO Ethno Sources; Association of Women’s Organizations – SUŽ; Kosovo Employers’ Union – UPK; Women’s Inclusive Center; Youth Partech Activity; Civic Activism Network; Women’s Business Association – WBA; Institute for Civil Society Development Innovate.
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