Kosovo's Border Management Strategy Highlights Challenges with Serbia
Political disputes and unrecognized borders complicate Kosovo's efforts to control cross-border crime.
The draft of Kosovo's National Strategy for Integrated Border Management 2025–2029 outlines significant challenges faced by Kosovo's border authorities in controlling the boundary with Serbia.
Due to ongoing political disputes and Serbia's non-recognition of the border, these challenges have perpetuated opportunities for illegal cross-border criminal activities, including transnational organized crime networks.
The strategy document, as reported by koha.net, identifies major risks to Kosovo, ranging from terrorism to illegal migration, human trafficking, and various forms of smuggling, including narcotics, weapons, and explosives.
Political deadlock between Serbia and Kosovo has also impeded the establishment of joint border crossings as outlined in the Brussels Agreement, despite the completion of necessary infrastructures.
Contracts for six new EU-funded joint integrated border crossings were signed in 2015, but only two of them have been completed: Merdare in October 2018 and Mutivoda in July 2019. The strategy emphasizes the need for further steps towards implementing new integrated crossings, primarily involving the construction of four more shared border points.
Additionally, the new crossings at Kapija Vrapce in the south and Rajetići/Izvor in the north await opening, a process demanded by Kosovo and Serbia, respectively.
The 'administrative line' dividing Kosovo and Serbia spans 380 kilometers.
Thus far, Kosovo has finalized its border delineations and definitions with Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro.
Due to ongoing political disputes and Serbia's non-recognition of the border, these challenges have perpetuated opportunities for illegal cross-border criminal activities, including transnational organized crime networks.
The strategy document, as reported by koha.net, identifies major risks to Kosovo, ranging from terrorism to illegal migration, human trafficking, and various forms of smuggling, including narcotics, weapons, and explosives.
Political deadlock between Serbia and Kosovo has also impeded the establishment of joint border crossings as outlined in the Brussels Agreement, despite the completion of necessary infrastructures.
Contracts for six new EU-funded joint integrated border crossings were signed in 2015, but only two of them have been completed: Merdare in October 2018 and Mutivoda in July 2019. The strategy emphasizes the need for further steps towards implementing new integrated crossings, primarily involving the construction of four more shared border points.
Additionally, the new crossings at Kapija Vrapce in the south and Rajetići/Izvor in the north await opening, a process demanded by Kosovo and Serbia, respectively.
The 'administrative line' dividing Kosovo and Serbia spans 380 kilometers.
Thus far, Kosovo has finalized its border delineations and definitions with Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro.
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