The Kosovo government has extended the deadline for registering its diaspora, marking the latest effort to account for citizens living abroad. Despite multiple calls from top officials and a previous two-month extension, the registration period has now been extended by an additional four months, until December 31, 2024.
Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Donika Gërvalla, presented the proposal during a cabinet meeting, emphasizing the significance of the diaspora census.
„I urge you to approve the extension and amend the May 17, 2024, decision on registering emigrants through the e-Diaspora portal. I am requesting an extension until December 31, 2024, for several reasons. Most importantly, the data collected will be crucial not only for institutions in Kosovo but also for those in the diaspora. It will also help the emigrants themselves better organize their needs and potential,“ Gërvalla stated.
She also highlighted the current registration pace of approximately 3,000 applications per day, suggesting that an extension would help maintain this momentum.
Gërvalla’s remarks differ slightly from the recent explanation provided by Ylli Shala, head of the population census at the Kosovo Agency of Statistics (ASK). Last week, Shala explained that the initial extension, which pushed the deadline to August 31, was intended to give the diaspora the opportunity to register while visiting Kosovo during the summer season. He expressed his belief that most people had already registered electronically.
The government will decide at the end of the year whether to finalize the process or consider another extension, according to Gërvalla.
The ministers unanimously approved the proposal, continuing the government’s ongoing efforts to encourage diaspora participation. The latest extension follows a series of appeals from Kosovo officials, including the Prime Minister, various ministries, ambassadors, and agencies.
In addition to the special electronic platform designed to simplify the census process for those of Kosovo origin, the deadline has now been extended twice, offering an additional six months for registration. Furthermore, special officers have been appointed in seven regional municipal centers, allowing people to register in person.
Preliminary results from the Kosovo Agency of Statistics in Pristina, as of July, indicate that the population in Kosovo is close to 1.6 million, with a significant boycott in the North and about 600,000 registered in the diaspora. This figure differs from Shala’s earlier estimates for the diaspora.
The population census in Kosovo was conducted from April 5 to May 17, except in eleven municipalities south of the Ibar River, where it was extended by another week at the request of local authorities, ultimately concluding on May 24.
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