On 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared its independence, ending nine years of unresolved status since the collapse of Yugoslavia and the war in Kosovo in 1999. Kosovo is now fully engaged in a period of significant transition, as the new government works to solidify its independence, build democratic institutions and guarantee a stable, inclusive, multi-ethnic society. Central to this process has been the introduction of an elaborate system of minority rights to bring all Kosovo’s citizens, regardless of ethnic identity, into the political structures of the new state. Kosovo, with around 2 million inhabitants, has an Albanian majority, as well as significant Serb, Turk, Bosniak, Gorani and Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian (RAE) communities. Each community has a different position in Kosovo society and specific needs within the new government, requiring system of protections that is representative, responsive and flexible to changing circumstances. Towards achieving this goal, the government of Kosovo is facing a substantial range of challenges, not least of which is opposition to its legitimacy, both internationally, including Serbia and Russia, and internally, especially among the majority of the Kosovo Serb community.

As Kosovo’s new government moves forward post-independence, involving the Serb community within the state remains a key issue. Serbia continues to deny Kosovo’s independence and supports parallel institutions of Serbia within Serb inhabited areas of the state. This undermines the Kosovo government’s ability to develop inclusive democratic institutions and implement minority rights, as the majority of the Serb community continue to look to Belgrade rather than Prishtina. At the same time, Kosovo has made significant progress in relation to minority rights. With the promulgation of the constitution, planned implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan and signing of several key laws, especially the Law on Communities, the government has built a concrete multi-layered system of rights that not only meets, but at times exceeds international norms. Moreover, there have been positive steps made by the Serb community, such as participation in the launch of the Consultative Council for Communities, which give an encouraging outlook towards their increased participation in Kosovo’s structures. At the same time, substantial challenges persist as Kosovo remains largely divided while undergoing significant transition. Ensuring that government structures for communities are institutionalised, effective and inclusive is crucial to Kosovo’s stability and development. As such, ECMI Kosovo’s main objective throughout this period of transition is supporting such institutional development, giving both the government and all Kosovo’s communities the tools necessary to move forward during this fragile period.