Police Cooperation Between Kosovo and Serbia

The author presents in general and deconstructs the institutional architecture in Kosovo that enables the current mode of cooperation.

Second, it examines the mode of both formal and informal, and direct and indirect police cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia.

Third, it outlines the existing challenges of the current institutional set-up and mode of cooperation in policing matters, followed by some recommendations.

Political disagreements between Kosovo and Serbia mean substantial lapses in proper management and control of their mutual border, especially in the sensitive northern part of Kosovo.

This opens the door to widespread smuggling of migrants, who then find their way to Hungary and then Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe.

Moreover, the lack of joint and frequent border patrols between Kosovo and Serbia opens the door to massive tree felling in the forests, especially in the northern part of Kosovo.

Should the current trend continue, the area might soon be deforested, causing collateral damage for both Kosovo and Serbia

This publication was produced in the framework of the project Security Research Forum: Belgrade-Prishtina-Tirana supported by the Government of the Kingdom of Norway. Research was supported by the Balkans Trust for Democracy’s Professional Work Exchange Program for Enhanced Policy Dialogue, with the support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom. The views and analysis contained in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Norwegian and UK governments or any of their affiliated organizations.