Berlin has sent a strong message to Pristina over its recent actions targeting Serbian-run health facilities in Kosovo.
Michael Reiffenstuel, Director for the Western Balkans at the German Foreign Ministry, called on the Kosovo government to urgently “refrain from targeting” Serbian institutions.
“Calling urgently on Kosovo to refrain from targeting Serbia-run health institutions. Last week’s worrying actions negatively affect Kosovo’s own citizens, go against its obligations and commitments towards EU and put a strain on our bilateral relations,” Reiffenstuel said.
Calling urgently on Kosovo to refrain from targeting Serbia-run health institutions. Last week’s worrying actions negatively affect Kosovo’s own citizens, go against its obligations and commitments towards EU & put a strain on our bilateral 🇩🇪🇽🇰relations.
— Michael Reiffenstuel (@GERonWEB) September 15, 2025
German Ambassador to Kosovo Jörn Rohde relayed the message, stressing Berlin’s position:
“Clear message from Berlin: cooperation and coordination are needed, no more escalating steps.”
Germany did not provide further details about the specific steps it was referring to. The statement follows days of public debate about the possible integration of Serbian health and education institutions into Kosovo’s system.
Nenad Rašić, acting Minister for Communities and Returns in Kosovo’s outgoing government — and currently campaigning for local elections scheduled for October 12 — sought to reassure the public:
“Citizens should not be afraid, neither in health nor in education institutions, because we will do everything on our side to make the transition process absolutely painless. Employees will be in safe hands and we will not allow the loss of dozens or hundreds of workers,” Rašić said.
He recalled that he had been speaking for years about the potential integration of Serbian health and education institutions and stressed that there is a legal basis for the process to be “simple and painless.”
While Rašić remains the only official in the caretaker government openly discussing the integration plans, the issue has resurfaced mainly within the Serb community. The topic gained further traction after U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Ana Pratipati said in a recent Serbian-language media interview that integration of Serbian health and education institutions into Kosovo’s system is “inevitable.”
Health and education are two of at least three pillars initially envisioned to function under the self-management model of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
