In the same week, Kosovo authorities assumed control over water facilities in North Mitrovica and Zubin Potok and subsequently requested financial support from the Northern Development Fund. The move was confirmed by Artane Rizvanolli, the Acting Minister for Economic Development, who stated that the government in Pristina, also in a technical mandate, has strongly endorsed the request. The authorities are now seeking support from the EU, which oversees the fund. However, the EU expressed reservations about the recent actions.
Series of Takeovers and Reactions
During a four-day period this week, nine institutions previously operated under the Serbian system, were taken over by Kosovo authorities. These include the water supply facility in North Mitrovica, the pump station in Suvi Do, the new water facility in Zubin Potok, the Sports Hall, the Youth and Specialized Services Institution, the cultural society and library, a house known as the City Museum, and the National Employment Service.
Kosovo authorities changed the symbols on the buildings, replaced locks, and dismissed workers in North Mitrovica water supply facility, pending a new hiring process. Bashkim Kurti from the south was appointed as the new acting director.
Addressing the takeover, outgoing Kosovo PM, Albin Kurti, stated:
„Water is a key resource for every country, and water supply is a fundamental right of every citizen. From now on, the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo will responsibly manage this resource.“
Artane Rizvanolli added:
„This is our state, these are our institutions, and they will be the only ones in Kosovo.“
Concerns About Water Supply
The Serbian List, with backing from Belgrade, raised alarms over a potential humanitarian crisis, warning that access to drinking water for citizens could be jeopardized. They also expressed doubt about the technical capacity of the new management to operate the recently built regional water facility in Gazivode, financed by Serbia.
The new director indirectly dismissed Serbian accusations, emphasizing the long-standing cooperation between public companies from both systems.
International Reactions
The takeover drew international concern. French Ambassador to Pristina, Olivier Guerot, noted:
„Repeated actions of the authorities of Kosovo against Serbian-run structures in Kosovo that provide services to the Serbian community are a cause for concern. The issue of these structures should be addressed within the framework of the dialogue facilitated by the EU.“
The OSCE also voiced worry over actions affecting public services, including the measures taken against water companies in predominantly Serbian municipalities.
UN Special Representative Caroline Ziadeh expressed concern about the continuous closure of Serbia-funded facilities in northern Kosovo, warning that such actions could harm community well-being and security.
The EU’s statement was more forceful, urging the outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Kosovo authorities to halt the closures and refrain from escalating measures.
On the financial front, Rizvanolli claimed that over the past 26 years, Kosovo’s supply of drinking water to northern municipalities cost the Republic of Kosovo €19.5 million, without any payment received. Despite past incidents, she assured that water supply had remained stable.
’Mitrovica’ Water Utility Company Seeks Financial Support from Northern Development Fund
Mitrovica, the water utility company from southern Kosovo, has requested financial support from the Northern Development Fund, according to Rizvanolli. She confirmed that the request has the full backing of her government.
Rizvanolli also expressed hope that the European Union would extend its support, emphasizing that the assistance would be „for the benefit of the citizens of the northern municipalities and a fundamentally significant process of interethnic cooperation and integration in these municipalities.“
She noted that, under agreements signed with northern municipalities in January of this year, this water utility companya’s service provision enables „quality and safe water supply, as well as investments in the network and its maintenance.“ The goal, she added, is to facilitate necessary investments for service improvement and to initiate proper measurement and billing.
Serb List: Rizvanolli Chooses Her Words Carefully to Mask Institutional Usurpation – North Development Fund Now Targeted
The Serb List accused today the Minister in Albin Kurti’s caretaker government, Artane Rizvanolli, of attempting to „carefully choose her words to conceal the true intentions of Pristina“ – a continuation, they claim, of the „institutional usurpation in the North,“ this time targeting funds from the North Development Fund.
The Serbian List accused Minister Artane Rizvanolli and Prime Minister Albin Kurti of pursuing policies aimed at forcibly removing the Serbian population from Kosovo.
„Minister Rizvanolli forgets that Kurti has never cared about the Serbian people; his sole objective has been to expel and physically remove them from Kosovo and Metohija,“ the party stated, further alleging that over 15% of Serbs have left northern Kosovo since Kurti took office.
They added that the „persecution of Serbian workers from public enterprises“ and the „violent takeover of facilities“ are part of a broader strategy aimed at „enslaving and institutionally excluding Serbs,“ while directly threatening water supplies for citizens, hospitals, schools, student dormitories, and kindergartens.
The Serbian List also expressed particular concern over what it described as the „illegal diversion of water from the North to Pristina and Vucitrn,“ a practice they claim has already taken place, depriving Serbian communities of basic rights.
Once again, the party called on international representatives to „stand up for the rights of the Serbian people to exist in these territories,“ urging greater protection and intervention against the recent measures.
North Kosovo Development Fund Under Scrutiny Amid Concerns Over Transparency and Political Tensions
The North Kosovo Development Fund, established under the 2013 Brussels Agreement on customs revenue, continues to draw public and political scrutiny amid growing concerns over transparency and governance.
Funded through customs duties collected at northern border crossings Jarinje and Brnjak (known as Gates 1 and 31), the fund was designed to support development in four Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo: North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan.
A three-member Managing Board — consisting of the EU Special Representative in Kosovo, Kosovo’s Finance Minister, and a Serb community representative — oversees the allocation of funds.
Although the initiative was launched to boost local development, media outlets and civil society groups report a persistent lack of transparency. Numerous formal requests for information about the fund’s operations and disbursements have gone unanswered over the years.
The fund was active in allocating resources between 2015 and 2017, with the Kosovo National Audit Office reporting in 2020 that the board had failed to implement oversight measures due to political instability — specifically the mass resignation of Serb mayors in late 2018, which led to early local and parliamentary elections.
By the end of 2018, the fund had reportedly amassed over €15.5 million, with €11 million already allocated to around 30 infrastructure and development projects. While public estimates often cite a total of €14 million, updated figures from the EU Office in Pristina in 2023 break down disbursements as follows: €6.9 million for projects in North Mitrovica; €3 million in Zvecan; €2.5 million in Zubin Potok; €2 million in Leposavic.
According to the EU, investments have focused on road infrastructure, cultural and recreational facilities, support for SMEs, and medical equipment.
Water Supply to Northern Kosovo
The water supply to North Mitrovica and Zvecan comes from Sipolje (South Mitrovica). In recent years, they also benefited from the newly constructed regional water system for the North, funded by the Serbian government and operational since 2019.
By the end of 2019, water distribution from the new „Gazivode“ regional pipeline began serving North Mitrovica, Zvecan, and Zubin Potok. At that time, officials confirmed a total capacity of 150 liters per second—75 liters allocated to North Mitrovica, 41 liters to Zvecan, and the remainder to Zubin Potok.
There are currently no officially confirmed data on the exact volume of water being supplied to these three northern municipalities from Gazivode. However, both local government sources and officials from the Ibar Public Utility Company have indicated that the supply has decreased.
Leposavic, notably, has never been supplied with water from Sipolje or the new regional water system. The municipality relies entirely on its own water infrastructure.
Water shortages have been a persistent issue in North Mitrovica and Zvecan since 1999. Some areas in these municipalities continue to face water outages, especially during the summer months, highlighting ongoing challenges in water distribution.
Water Supply Issues Persist in the North
Water supply remains a critical issue in northern Kosovo. North Mitrovica and Zvecan are primarily supplied from the Shipole reservoir, while additional capacity has been provided since 2019 by a regional water system financed by Serbia.
At the time of its launch, the Gazivode regional water system had a reported capacity of 150 liters per second, divided among North Mitrovica (75 l/s), Zvecan (41 l/s), and Zubin Potok. However, there are currently no official updates on current supply volumes, and local officials have indicated a reduction in capacity.
Leposavic has never been connected to either the Shipole or Gazivode networks and relies on an independent water source. Despite improvements, intermittent shortages still affect parts of North Mitrovica and Zvecan, particularly during the summer months.
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