If the Law on Foreigners is fully implemented, North Mitrovica could be left without its student population – not only those arriving from Serbia and Montenegro, but also local young people who would choose to continue their education elsewhere, says Senka Kostić, assistant professor at the Faculty of Philosophy in North Mitrovica.
Speaking to KoSSev, Kostić warned that the announced enforcement of two Kosovo laws – on foreigners and on vehicles – directly affects the functioning of the University of Pristina and the future of the Serbian community in northern Kosovo.
“Mitrovica would have streets without students if the Law on Foreigners were implemented. A significant number of students would no longer study here – not only those from Serbia or Montenegro, but also children from Kosovo. If this university does not remain within the Serbian system, they will go to Serbia. And then we can only speculate what percentage of them will ever return,”.
„Information vacuum and no red lines“
Kosovo authorities have announced the full implementation of the two laws from March 15, following several postponements and an ongoing information campaign. The measures would introduce stricter registration and control of foreign persons and vehicles entering Kosovo.
Although adopted years ago, their enforcement was only recently announced. The provisions could affect Kosovo Serbs whose personal documents are issued in cities in central Serbia, as well as those driving vehicles registered there. Critics warn this could restrict freedom of movement and potentially result in some Serbs being treated as foreigners in their own communities.
Kostić says university staff have received no official guidance from faculty leadership, the rectorate, or Serbia’s Ministry of Education.
“We have no clear information about what will happen to our faculty or how these laws affect us. We are learning about developments from the media. No one has transparently told us what we must do, what we do not have to do, what our real options are, and what they are not.”
She argues that the issue is not limited to the past three months but reflects years of positioning – in negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina and in the way the university itself has operated.
According to Kostić, it remains unclear whether Serbia or the university has defined any “red lines” regarding its legal and institutional status.
Autonomy in theory, politics in practice
While the university formally claims autonomy, Kostić says reality is more complex.
“We speak of autonomy, and we would like the University to enjoy full autonomy. But we are fully aware that this is not entirely the case in practice.”
She suggests that university leadership cannot provide information unless it aligns with political positions in Kosovo, which in turn depend on coordination with Belgrade.
“The rector cannot give us any information until it is harmonised with political options in Kosovo, and they cannot do so until they align with Belgrade. And evidently, we are not a priority for Belgrade.”
Students have requested a special session of the Serbian parliament dedicated to the university and the consequences of the laws’ implementation. No official response has yet followed.
A question of survival, not administration
For Kostić, the stakes go beyond administrative procedures. She argues that the university represents more than an educational institution – it is a pillar of long-term community survival, offering young people a perspective for professional development without leaving Kosovo.
“The university gives the Serbian community a vision of the future – a place where you can grow, specialise, and define your path. If we take that away, we will only see an increasing number of people leaving.”
At the same time, she calls for a proactive approach from the university itself, including dialogue with all actors involved.
“One thing is what we would like. Another is what is happening on the ground. On the ground, it is Prime Minister Kurti who comes and says: this property is not yours. We need to negotiate – not to accept everything asked of us, but to clarify what is expected, why, where we stand in the process, and what we can secure.”
This article is based on statements made by Senka Kostić in a podcast produced within the project “From ‘Integration of Serbs’ to a New Social Contract for a Truly Multi-Ethnic Kosovo – Year Two,” supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented by the Center for Affirmative Social Action (CASA) and Space/s for Societal Change (Space/s).
The views expressed by the speaker do not necessarily reflect those of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, CASA, Space/s, or KoSSev.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
