Combating the pandemic through delivering assistance, has become the cornerstone of diplomatic action. To this end, since the pandemic outbreak, the diplomatic activity of states and multilateral organizations has been largely focused on finding the best alternatives to secure or deliver cross-border assistance. This short document will dwell into some of these effects, more concretely on how foreign assistance has impacted international politics thus far. Apart from a general discussion, the document focuses more extensively in the case of Kosovo.

The effects of the pandemic in the field of foreign policy will be massive. Covid-19 has had a serious impact in the relations and communication between states, given that it has transformed the manner in which daily diplomacy is conducted. This policy notes problematizes an aspect which has already produced consequences, that is the reduction of the physical interacion and meetings between state representatives. The closing of borders and limited movement at the global level, has implied that official visits had to be canceled or postponed, while the diplomatic meetings have passed in the realm of virtual platforms.

The Action Plan for Rationalization of Independent Agencies was approved by the Government of Kosovo in 2017. This document is an obligation arising from the European Reform Agenda (ERA), a document derived from Kosovo's Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU. Also the SBS contract, the Financial Sector Support Agreement (SBS) between the Government and the European Commission through which the EC conditions the transfer of financial support tranches with progress throughout the rationalization process during 2018 and 2019 with the achievement of the objectives of this plan.

The survey, “International Politics and Political Parties: The Perceptions of Kosovar Citizens” was undertaken by the Prishtina Institute for Political Studies (PIPS) for the first time in 2019. The survey is supported by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and will be conducted annually, under the PIPS Program for Foreign Policy Analysis.