Our latest publication aims to provide an overview of Kosovo's foreign affairs in 2021. The report is part of PIPS's commitment to document and analyze Kosovo's foreign policy policies each year. The study focuses on the main events and policy developments that have dominated Kosovo's foreign relations, as well as the successes and challenges it faces in implementing key foreign policy goals. Aims to document key developments shaping Kosovo's bilateral diplomacy, dialogue with Serbia, recognition and membership in international organizations, and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Regional cooperation in the Balkans is accompanied by a deep mistrust between states. Various initiatives initiated by the European Union or EU members, have installed various mechanisms to facilitate regional relations and maximize benefits for all participating countries. However, this has often not been the case. This Policy Note analyzes in a comparative context the government proposal with the existing economic cooperation agreement. Meanwhile, it provides an overview of how the new proposal would work, in the normative framework.

The aim of this policy analysis is to shed light on how the six Western Balkan countries dealt with preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE). It is intended to be the first of a series of analysis on the issue. While this paper will focus on specific country initiatives and actor-based analysis, the upcoming publications will provide a regional statistical outlook concerning the phenomenon of foreign fighters, including the repatriation and reintegration initiatives, convictions, as well as the challenges faced by the six Western Balkan countries.

1 year has passed since the signing of the Washington agreement for economic normalization between Kosovo and Serbia.

PIPS has evaluated and analyzed the implementation of 5 key points from this agreement as follows:
(1) designation of Hezbollah as a whole as a terrorist organization
(2) participation in Mini-Schengen (Open Balkans)
(3) compliance with the moratorium which suspended Kosovo's applications for membership in international organizations
(4) mutual recognition and the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel for Kosovo, namely the relocation of the Embassy in Jerusalem for Serbia; and
(5) working with other countries to promote the decriminalization of homosexuality

Kosovo has met 4 of these points, while Serbia only 2 of them.

This publication clarifies the political context and the actions taken by both parties to realize these points.

In our latest paper, PIPS analyzed Kosovo's approach and its role in the global fight against misinformation. Similar to other parts of the globe, in recent years the Western Balkans has seen an increase in disinformation and hybrid wars.

In the Western Balkans, the main purposes of fake news include, among other things, undermining the legitimacy and sovereignty of Kosovo's statehood, changing the narratives of war and war crimes, and undermining the West's credibility regarding state-building in Kosovo. News about Kosovo, in addition to being a dominant topic in the Serbian media, is often the subject of inaccurate reporting. Narratives spread by biased media also focus on weakening support for Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Such developments are an obstacle to regional integration and cooperation, which is why in this policy analysis PIPS has listed opportunities and recommendations for the government of Kosovo and the EU to address this phenomenon.

The Adriatic Charter (A-5) is one of the main regional security initiatives in the region of Southeast Europe, thus helping the member states' goal of achieving NATO and EU integration. The Adriatic Charter consists of Albania, Macedonia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Kosovo was the last country to gain observer status in the A-5 in 2012, and its bid to become a full member in 2014 failed due to Bosnia and Herzegovina's veto.

Therefore, what are the odds that Kosovo can join the Adriatic Charter?

Our latest publication explains the benefits, opportunities and obstacles for Kosovo's full membership in the Adriatic Charter.

Challenges stemming from a lack of coordination and normalization of political relations with Serbia have strained the management of Ujman and the Ibar canal. With this in mind, the US-led discussions in the White House on September 4, 2020 attempted to address this issue, and in point seven of the agreement a feasibility study was proposed that looked at the possibilities of sharing the flow of water.

This summary note aims to analyze the case of "Lake Ujman" focusing on regional cooperation and economic importance. Furthermore, this paper focuses on the geopolitical importance of Lake Ujman, the Washington Agreement and the recommendations arising from this agreement, similar cases and international precedents for shared management of water resources, and the consequences of the agreement.

"A brief discussion on the relevance of Title II of the SAA and the Political Dialogue between Kosovo and the European Union (EU)" argues the importance of utilizing Title II for Political Dialogue for Kosovo to achieve EU support in consolidating the external dimensions through cooperation with the EU, on the fifth anniversary of the entry into force of the Stabilization and Association Agreement.

Beyond the importance that is given to the dialogue on the normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations in Title II, this chapter offers untapped potential for other forms of cooperation between Kosovo and the EU.

This publication analyzes Kosovo's setbacks in utilizing this potential and provides recommendations on how to proceed in future endeavors.

This publication is published in the framework of the PIPS Foreign Policy Analysis Program (FPAP). The publication was produced with the support of the Kosovo Civil Society Foundation.