Policy Profile Kosovo
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Policy Profile Kosovo
Kosovo holds a potential candidate status for the European Union (EU) and also holds candidate status but is not a member of the Council of Europe.
The European Union (EU) significantly supports Kosovo’s socio-economic development and reforms through financial and technical assistance under the Instrument for the Preaccession Assistance (IPA). The EU prioritises youth, education, and innovation in its support of Kosovo, implementing Youth Guarantee schemes for employment, facilitating educational exchanges through ERASMUS+, and supporting civil society. Initiatives like the Young Cells Scheme grant opportunities for young professionals to strengthen EU-Kosovo relations further.
The responsibility for cultural policy primarily lies with the Ministria e Kulturës, Rinisë dhe Sportit (Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports). The ministry is tasked with creating and implementing policies related to cultural development, heritage preservation, and the promotion of cultural activities. Additionally, various cultural institutions and organisations within Kosovo, such as the National Museum, National Theatre, and the Kosovo Film Center, play significant roles in the cultural landscape.
Among the most important bodies dealing with cultural heritage in the country is the Institute for the Protection of Monuments of Kosovo, which is part of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. This body is responsible for the identification, protection, conservation, and restoration of cultural monuments and heritage sites throughout Kosovo. Outside the realm of the Ministry, the Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage also provides expertise and recommendations on the protection and management of cultural heritage.
The Ministria e Mjedisit dhe Planifikimit Hapsinor e Kosovës (Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning, and Infrastructure) in Kosovo is also involved in heritage policy. This ministry’s responsibilities include the sustainable management of natural resources, spatial planning, and the preservation of cultural and historical sites. It often works in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports to ensure that heritage conservation efforts align with environmental and spatial planning policies.
Regional cultural policies in Kosovo are shaped by both national directives and local initiatives aimed at promoting and preserving cultural heritage and fostering cultural activities within different municipalities.
While the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports (MCYS) sets national cultural policies, there is a significant push towards decentralisation, allowing municipalities to develop and implement their own cultural programs. This approach helps address the specific cultural needs and heritage of different regions.
Each municipality in Kosovo typically has a cultural department responsible for local cultural activities, heritage preservation, and supporting local artists and cultural organisations. These departments work within the framework set by the national government, but have the flexibility to tailor their initiatives to local contexts.
View all Kosovo policies gathered so far
* = This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence
