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Institute for Territorial Economic Development (InTER)
For the publisher
Dragisa Mijacic
Authors
Jasna Zarkovic
Dragisa Mijacic
Marija Milenkovic
Year
2017
This policy study was written as a part of the project financed through a Small Action Grant of the
Embassy of Switzerland in Kosovo. The opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations
expressed herein are those of the Authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Embassy of
Switzerland.
Public institutions of the Republic of Serbia in North Kosovo
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US?
July 2017
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? CONTENTS
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1
EDUCATION ................................................................................................................................. 3
Preschool institutions ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Primary schools .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Secondary schools .............................................................................................................................................. 5
Colleges and universities .................................................................................................................................... 7
Functioning of the educational system .............................................................................................................. 8
HEALTH CARE ............................................................................................................................ 10
Health care institutions .................................................................................................................................... 10
Functioning of the health care system ............................................................................................................. 11
SOCIAL PROTECTION .................................................................................................................. 13
Social protection institutions ........................................................................................................................... 13
Functioning of social protection ...................................................................................................................... 14
OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA .................................................................... 16
Public companies of the Republic of Serbia ..................................................................................................... 16
Public institutions of the Republic of Serbia .................................................................................................... 18
Public finance ............................................................................................................................................... 18
Economy ...................................................................................................................................................... 18
Agriculture ................................................................................................................................................... 19
Culture ......................................................................................................................................................... 20
Judicial system ............................................................................................................................................. 20
Real estate cadastre .................................................................................................................................... 21
Other institutions of the Republic of Serbia .................................................................................................... 22
LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT UNITS AND LOCAL INSTITUTIONS ..................................................... 24
Local self-government units ............................................................................................................................. 24
Public companies of local self-governments .................................................................................................... 25
Public institutions of local self-governments ................................................................................................... 27
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................. 29
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 31
Literature ......................................................................................................................................................... 31
Websites .......................................................................................................................................................... 34
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? ABBREVIATIONS
ABBREVIATIONS
AP Autonomous Province
APR Business Registers Agency
EPS Elektroprivreda Srbije
EU European Union
InTER Institute for Territorial Economic Development
MEST Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of Kosovo
UNO United Nations Organisation
VAT Value added tax
PIO Republic Pension and Disability Insurance Fund
RS Republic of Serbia
UN-Habitat United Nations-Habitat
UNMIK United Nations Mission in Kosovo
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? INTRODUCTION
1
INTRODUCTION
The first agreement on the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, known as the
Brussels Agreement, was signed in April 2013 in Brussels with the European Union as the
mediator. At that time, among other things, the Agreement initiated the integration of Serbian
institutions in the municipalities of North Kosovo1 into the legal and institutional system of
Kosovo, and the first step in this process was to organise local elections in those municipalities in
Kosovo.
There are many challenges in the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, and four years after
the signing, all 15 points of the agreement have not yet been implemented. Bearing in mind that the
Community/Association of Serb Municipalities has not yet been established, the legal and
institutional system of the Republic of Serbia has remained in many institutions in North Kosovo.
This is especially the case in the field of education, health and social protection, as well as judiciary
system, public finance, agriculture and other fields.
In practice, negotiations in Brussels have proved to be non-transparent, and their results unknown
to citizens, especially those in North Kosovo. The adopted solutions are also often inconsistent with
the expectations of the local population. Therefore, it can often be heard that citizens from North
Kosovo want to be more actively involved in the negotiation process, and impose topics that are
essential for their sustainable survival. This is the aspect from which this paper should be read,
which primarily aims to contribute to the negotiations in Brussels through the opening of a public
debate on the future of existing institutions in North Kosovo that operate in the system of the
Republic of Serbia, on reciprocity of services provided by these institutions to citizens, as well as
the future of employees in these public administrations.
The subject of this research includes state bodies, public enterprises and institutions founded by the
Government of the Republic of Serbia and local self-government units in North Kosovo, which are
still active in the four Serb-majority municipalities in North Kosovo: Mitrovica North, Leposavic,
Zvecan and Zubin Potok. During the research, special attention was paid to education, health care
and social protection, but other sectors were also considered. The paper also analyses how the
public sector in Kosovo is organized in the areas that are the subject of this research. Public
institutions and companies that, after signing the signing of the Brussels Agreement in 2013, have
been integrated into the Kosovo’s legal system, such as police, customs, civil protection and
Telekom Srbija, have not been the subject of research in this paper.
Qualitative methods were mainly used during the research. The first step in conducting the research
was related to the collection of secondary data sources, primarily laws, strategic documents and
reports on the work of relevant institutions within the Serbian and Kosovo’s legal systems. Also,
relevant data on public companies that are available in the Serbian Business Registers Agency have
been collected. Based on the analysis of the above documentation, state authorities, public
companies and institutions that operate within the Serbian legal system in North Kosovo have been
mapped. In order to verify the collected data, interviews were organized with representatives of
1 Instead of names “Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija, Kosmet, Kosovo* or the Republic of
Kosovo, this research uses the name “Kosovo” as the most publically used term.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? INTRODUCTION
2
institutions and other stakeholders who have the knowledge of the topics that are the subject of
research. Bearing in mind the sensitivity of this topic, most interviewees wanted to remain
anonymous.
The paper is divided into five chapters, first of which gives an overview of the situation in
education, the second in the field of health care, the third in the area of social protection, the fourth
covers other areas, and the fifth local governments and their public enterprises. Conclusion is given
at the end, as well as references to all the sources used in the paper.
The research was carried out by the Institute for Territorial Economic Development (InTER) in
2017, with the support of the Swiss Embassy in Kosovo. It is important to emphasize that the
findings and opinions expressed in this study belong to the authors and do not represent the views
of the Swiss Embassy in Kosovo.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? EDUCATION
3
EDUCATION
Preschool institutions There are six preschool institutions in the territory of four municipalities in North Kosovo. Most of
them, three, are in Leposavic: preschool institution “Nasa radost” Leposavic, preschool
institution “Bambi” Socanica and preschool institution “Veselo detinjstvo” Lesak. Other
municipalities have one preschool institution each. Preschool “Danica Jaramaz” operates in
Mitrovica North, preschool institution “Lane” in Zvecan, and preschool “Nase dete” in Zubin
Potok. The work of these institutions is mainly financed from municipal budgets.
Table 1 Number of preschool institutions and employees in North kosovo
Municipality Preschool institutions Number of
children
Number of
teachers
Number of
employees
Mitrovica
North Preschool institution “Danica Jaramaz” 523 46 86
Zvecan Preschool institution “Lane” 313 24 54
Zubin Potok Preschool institution “Nase dete” 240 39 59
Leposavic
Preschool institution “Nasa radost”
Leposavic
390 43 97
Preschool institution “Bambi” Socanica 110 8 38
Preschool institution “Veselo detinjstvo”
Lešak 207 15 49
Total 1783 175 383
Source: Information received from interviews
Primary schools In North Kosovo, primary education is organised in 16 schools. There are about 500 teachers and
they are attended by about 4,100 students. According to the data for the school year 2015/2016, the
number of students per teacher is 16.1, and, on average, classes have 7.7 students (Table 2). The
most elementary schools (7) and students (1588) are located in the area of Mitrovica North.
There are two primary schools in Mitrovica North, the Primary School “Sveti Sava” and the
Primary School “Branko Radicevic” and five primary schools which were moved after 1999
from the southern part of the city and other parts of Kosovska Mitrovica District where Albanians
are the majority.2 The data show that in the school year 2015/2016, three schools that were
transferred from the southern part of the city had less than ten students, and there were two classes.
The number of students per teacher in these schools was 1 or less than 1.
After Mitrovica North, the largest number of students from North Kosovo attend the primary
school in Leposavic (1170 in total). There are three primary schools in the municipality of
Leposavic: Primary School “Leposavic”, Primary School “Stana Bacanin” in Lesak and
2 These are: Primary School “Desanka Maksimovic”, Primary School “Veljko Banasevic”, Primary School
“Predrag i Miodrag Mihajlovic”, Primary School “Dositej Obradovic” and Primary School “Vlado
Cetkovic”.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? EDUCATION
4
Primary School “Vuk Karadzic” in Socanica. In these three schools, there are 82 classes. The
average number of students per class is 14.3, which is lower than the average for North Kosovo.
In the territory of Zvecan there are three primary schools: Primary School “Vuk Karadzic” in
Zvecan, Primary School “Banovic Strahinja” in Banjska and Primary School “Sveti Sava” in
Zerovnica. In the school year 2015/2016, the Primary School in Zvecan was attended by a total of
684 students with 94 teachers.
In the municipality of Zubin Potok, primary education takes place in the Primary School “Jovan
Cvijić” in Zubin Potok, in the Primary School “Blagoje Radic” in the village of Zupce and in the
Primary School “Petar Kocic” in the village Brnjak. In the school year 2015/2016, the lowest
average number of students per teacher (5.7) was recorded in Zubin Potok in relation to other
municipalities from North Kosovo. Namely, in this municipality, a total of 659 pupils attended
primary schools and 116 teachers worked there.
Table 2 Data about primary schools in North Kosovo for the school year 2015/2016
Municipality Primary
schools
Number
of classes
Number
of
students
Number
of
teachers
Number of
students per
teacher
Number of
students per
class
Mitrovica
North
Primary School
Sveti Sava
33 828 68 12.2 25.1
Primary School
Branko
Radicevic
24 573 46 12.5 23.9
Primary School
Dositej
Obradovic
7 91 27 3.4 13.0
Primary School
Vlado Cetkovic
4 85 8 10.6 21.3
Primary School
Predrag i
Miodrag
Mihajlovic
2 2 6 0.3 1.0
Primary School
Desanka
Maksimovic
2 5 5 1.0 2.5
Primary School
Veljko
Banasevic
2 4 5 0.8 2.0
74 1588 165 9.6 21.5
Leposavic
Primary School
Leposavic
34 662 67 9.9 19.5
Primary School
Stana Bacanin
31 360 61 5.9 11.6
Primary School
Vuk Karadzic
17 148 33 4.5 8.7
82 1170 161 7.3 14.3
Zvecan
Primary School
Vuk Karadzic
28 519 55 9.4 18.5
Primary School
Banovic
Strahinja
6 46 16 2.9 7.7
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? EDUCATION
5
Primary School
Sveti Sava
8 119 23 5.2 14.9
42 684 94 7.3 16.3
Zubin Potok
Primary School
Jovan Cvijic
32 527 52 10.1 16.5
Primary School
Petar Kocic
16 55 42 1.3 3.4
Primary School
Blagoje Radic
8 77 22 3.5 9.6
56 659 116 5.7 11.8
Total
254 4101 536 7.7 16.1
Source: Education Card of Primary Schools, data from the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technological Development, available at www.opendata.mpn.gov.rs, www.bit.ly/2ryIipN
Secondary schools In the territory of North Kosovo, the network of secondary education institutions consists of 10
secondary schools, with 2,174 students, and 454 teachers. Statistics for the school year 2015/2016
show that on average there are 15.9 students per class, and the average number of students per
teacher is 4.8 (Table 3).
In the Mitrovica North region there are four vocational schools and two secondary schools. The
most high school students (485) attend the medical school “Desa Tomović”, where teaching is
organised for four vocational profiles: dental technician, nurse - technician, pharmaceutical
technician and physiotherapist. The medical school also has a dormitory in Mitrovica North.
In the technical school “Mihailo Petrovic Alas” there are seven professional courses that were
attended by 280 students during the school year 2015/2016.3 Since September 1999, this school
building also hosts a secondary school and a technical school from Vucitrn, which were
attended by 78 students in eight classes in the period 2015/2016. Statistics show that the secondary
school and the technical school from Vucitrn have the lowest number of students per teacher (1.9
and 1.5 respectively). The Secondary school from Vucitrn has a course on social and language
sciences, and the technical school has a course for a mechanical engineer of motor vehicles.
Also, in 1999, the School of Economics and Trade and a secondary school from the southern
part of the city were transferred to the north part. The secondary school has two profiles (social
sciences - languages and natural sciences - mathematics), and the school of economics and trade
has four profiles: economic technician, legal technician, trader and financial administrator.
Secondary school “Nikola Tesla” in Leposavic has four vocational profiles (car electrician,
economic technician, computer technician and computer technician for mechanical engineering)
and one general education profile (natural sciences - mathematics). In addition to this school, there
is also the School of Agriculture Pristina in Lesak with three profiles: veterinary technician,
3 Profiles: Architect technician, car mechanic, electro-mechanic for technical and cooling devices, electrical
engineer, assembler, machine technician for computer construction and road transport technician.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? EDUCATION
6
baker and food technician.4 These two schools were attended by 413 students, with 85 teachers in
the course of 2015/2016.
There are three profiles in the secondary school in Zvecan: laboratory technician, sanitary and
environmental technician and print technician. During the school year 2015/2016, 221 students
attended the high school, with 43 teachers.
In Zubin Potok there is a mixed secondary school “Grigorije Bozovic”, which was attended by
215 students divided into 16 classes during the 2015/2016 school year. There are 54 teachers in this
school. Secondary school has two vocational profiles (car mechanic and computer technician) and
two general profiles (natural science - mathematics and social sciences -languages).
In Mitrovica North there is a primary and secondary music school “Miodrag Vasiljevic” (20
classes, 267 students in the school year 2015/2016). In addition, young people and children with
special needs have access to primary and secondary education at the special school “Kosovski
bozur”. A total of 18 students in 4 classes attended the special school during the 2015/2016 school
year. These two institutions are moved from the south side of the city and are the only institutions
of this type in North Kosovo.
Table 3 Data about secondary schools in North Kosovo for the school year
Municipality Secondary
schools
Number
of classes
Number of
students
Number of
teachers
Number of
students
per
teacher
Number of
students
per class
Mitrovica
North
Secondary School 12 244 39 6.3 20.3
Secondary School
from Vucitrn 4 37 20 1.9 9.3
School of
Economic and
Trade
15 238 44 5.4 15.9
Medical School
with a dormitory
Desa Tomovic
20 485 85 5.7 24.3
Technical School
Mihailo Petrovic
Alas
21 280 56 5.0 13.3
Technical School
Vučitrn 4 41 27 1.5 10.3
76 1325 271 4.9 17.4
Leposavic
Secondary school
Nikola Tesla 20 311 53 5.9 15.6
School of
Agriculture
Pristina
10 102 33 3.1 10.2
30 413 86 4.8 13.8
Zvecan Secondary School 15 221 43 5.1 14.7
15 221 43 5.1 14.7
Zubin Potok Secondary School
Grigorije Bozovic 16 215 54 4.0 13.4
4 School of Agriculture was relocated from Pristina to Leposavic in 1999.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? EDUCATION
7
16 215 54 4.0 13.4
Total 137 2174 454 4.8 15.9
Source: Education Card of Secondary, Vocational and Mixed Schools, data from the Ministry of Education,
Science and Technological Development, available at www.opendata.mpn.gov.rs, http://bit.ly/2tob2mH,
http://bit.ly/2rMCtt5, http://bit.ly/2sLljeV
Colleges and universities In North Kosovo, almost 10,000 students obtain academic and vocational education in 13 higher
education institutions (colleges and faculties) of the University of Prishtina. After 1999, most of
these institutions were relocated from Pristina and other municipalities in Kosovo to Central Serbia.
However, at the end of 2001, with the decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia
(“Official Gazette of RS” No. 60/01), Mitrovica North was designated as the temporary location of
the University of Prishtina.
In Mitrovica North, academic education is provided at six faculties of the University of Pristina:
Faculty of Technical Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Medical
Faculty, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Philosophy and Faculty of Economics. In 2016, 6,424
students studied in Mitrovica North, which is about two-thirds of the total number of students in
four municipalities from North Kosovo. In Mitrovica North, there are also the Rectorate of the
University of Pristina, as well as the Students’ Center “Pristina”. The total number of
employees in these higher education institutions (without the Students’ Center “Pristina”) is 94, of
which 670 are teaching staff. For the Students’ Center “Pristina”, the maximum number of
employees was defined for 2017, and that is 209. 5
Table 4 Data about higher education institutions in North Kosovo for 2016
Municipa
lity
Higher
education
institutions
Number
of
students
Number
of
teaching
jobs
Number of
non-
teaching
jobs
Total
number of
employees
Number of
students per
teacher
Mitrovica
North
Faculty of
Technical
Sciences
1030 139 64 203 7.4
Faculty of
Natural Sciences
and Mathematics
726 94 27 121 7.7
Medical Faculty 1879 206 75 281 9.1
Faculty of Law 1036 40 20 60 25.9
Faculty of
Philosophy 1346 152 40 192 8.9
Faculty of
Economics 407 36 22 58 11.3
Rectorate 3 28 31
6424 670 276 946 9.6
Leposavic
Technical
College for
Vocational
315 20 9 29 15.8
5 The Decision on the Maximum Number of Permanent Employees in the System of State Institutions, Public
Services and the System of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the System of Local Self-
Governments for 2017 (“RS Official Gazette” no. 61/2017)
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? EDUCATION
8
Studies from
Urosevac
Economic
College of
Vocational
Studies from Pec
963 46 32 78 20.9
Faculty of
Teacher
Education
445 35 16 51 12.7
Faculty of Sport
and Physical
Education
549 28 16 44 19.6
Faculty of
Agriculture 324 59 29 88 5.5
2596 188 102 290 13.8
Zvecan
Technical
College for
Vocational
Studies
453 23 23 46 19.7
Faculty of Arts 288 84 24 108 3.4
741 107 47 154 6.9
Total 9761 965 425 1390 10.1
Source: Institutions of Higher Education, data from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological
Development, available at www.opendata.mpn.gov.rs, http://bit.ly/2toDcy1, http://bit.ly/2sP3s7I,
http://bit.ly/2rZPcE7, http://bit.ly/2rZSg37
In Leposavic, there are two colleges for vocational studies: the Technical College for Vocational
Studies from Urosevac and the Economic College of Vocational Studies from Pec. 6 In addition,
there are three faculties of the University of Pristina in Leposavic: Faculty of Teacher Education,
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education and Faculty of Agriculture. In 2016, 2274 students
were enrolled in Leposavic, mostly in the Economic College of Vocational Studies from Pec (963).
In Zvecan, there is a Technical College for Vocational Studies and the Faculty of Arts of the
University of Pristina, which had 741 students in total in 2016. There are no faculties or colleges
in Zubin Potok that are part of the University of Pristina.
Functioning of the educational system In the educational institutions of the Republic of Serbia in North Kosovo, teaching is carried out
according to the curriculum of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development
of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.7 The curriculum of these educational institutions is
not accredited in the Kosovo’s education system. Apart from the curriculum, the Serbian and
Kosovo education systems also have other different characteristics. For example, the primary
school in the Serbian education system lasts eight years, and the secondary school four years, while
in the Kosovo system, primary education lasts 9 years and the secondary three years.
6 After 1999, the Technical College for Vocational Studies from Urosevac was moved to Zvecan, and today
the college is in Leposavic. 7 Kosovo Albanians living in North Kosovo are provided with primary education that follows the curriculum
of the Kosovo Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in three municipalities: Leposavić (Bistrica),
Zvecan (in the villages of Lipa, Boletin and Zaze) and Zubin Potok (in Cabra ).
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? EDUCATION
9
The levels of decentralization of the education systems are also different. According to Serbian
legislation,8 municipalities are in charge of preschool education, while under the Kosovo law, in
addition to preschool education, municipalities also have competencies in the organisation of
primary and secondary education. Namely, since 2008, the Kosovo education system is in the
process of decentralizing and transferring responsibilities from the central level to the
municipalities, as well as from the municipalities to the school level. The Law on Education in
Municipalities (No. 03 / L-068) extended the competence of municipalities in relation to these three
levels of education in the areas of: construction of buildings, enrolment and admission of students,
employment in educational institutions, selection of principals of educational institutions, payment
for employees, teacher training, supervision and inspection of education, etc. In order to implement
these competencies, municipal education departments have been established and there are efforts to
build the capacities to fulfil municipal competencies in this area. 9
The Kosovo Law on Education also provides the possibility of education in Serbian, using the
curriculum and textbooks issued by the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological
Development, provided that the teaching material is delivered to the Kosovo Ministry of Education,
Science and Technology (MEST) and it does not object to its use. Kosovo laws have extended the
jurisdiction of the municipality of Mitrovica North in the field of higher education, stating that this
municipality is “authorised to provide higher education, including registration and licensing of
educational institutions, recruitment of teaching staff, payment of salaries and training of teaching
and administrative staff (Article 21 of the Law 03 / L-No 040 on Local Self-Government).
Also, the Kosovo law stipulates that teachers must be licensed by MEST, as well as the teacher-
student ratio, which is 1:21.3 in primary and secondary school for the majority community, and
1:14.2 for the minority community. For vocational schools this ratio is 1:17.2 for the majority
community and 1:11.5 for the minority community.10 It is noticeable that in elementary schools
operating in North Kosovo, this ratio is well below the prescribed maximum in the Kosovo law, as
the average number of primary school students per teacher is 7.7, and the number of secondary
school students per teacher is 4.8.
Education in North Kosovo is mostly financed from the budget of the Government of Serbia. In the
Kosovo system, teachers' salaries are financed from the budget of the Government of Kosovo,
while capital investments can be financed with MEST’s grants and/or from municipal budgets. On
this basis, salaries of employees in education in North Kosovo are financed from the budget of the
Government of Kosovo. In addition, MEST supported the renovation of three school buildings in
Mitrovica North and four buildings in the municipality of Zvecan, based on a signed memorandum
of understanding between MEST and the northern municipalities. 11
8 The Law on the Foundations of the System of Education ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia" No.
72/2009, 52/2011 and 55/2013) 9 Strategic Plan for Education in Kosovo 2017-2021 (2016), Ministry of Education, Science and Technology 10 Administrative Decree no. 22/2013, Maximum number of students per class and the teacher-student ratio 11 Summary of the Report on the Work of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology 2016, available
at: http://bit.ly/2sRcjms
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? HEALTH CARE
10
HEALTH CARE
Health care institutions Health services in North Kosovo are provided through four institutions: the Health Centre
Kosovska Mitrovica, the Community Health Centre Zvecan, the Public Health Institute and
the Kosovska Mitrovica Pharmacy. In these institutions, primary and secondary health care for
the citizens of municipalities in North Kosovo is provided.
Table 5 Data about health care institutions in North Kosovo in 2017
Municipality Public institutions Number of
employees
Maximum number
of employees
Mitrovica North Health Centre Kosovska Mitrovica 135112 1350
Mitrovica North General Hospital 975
Mitrovica North Community Health Centre
Kosovska Mitrovica 154
Leposavic Community Health Centre
Leposavic 137
Zubin Potok Community Health Centre Zubin
Potok 85
Mitrovica North Public Health Institute 95 120
Mitrovica North Kosovska Mitrovica Pharmacy 80 77
Zvecan Community Health Centre Zvecan 13813 137
Mitrovica North Health Insurance Fund 32 -
Total 1696
Source: Information received from interviewees and the Decision on the Maximum Number of Permanent
Employees in the System of State Institutions, Public Services and the System of the Autonomous Province of
Vojvodina and the System of Local Self-Governments for 2017 (“RS Official Gazette” no. 61/2017)
Primary health care is provided in the community health centres in each municipality in North
Kosovo. Community Health Centre Kosovska Mitrovica, Community Health Centre
Leposavic and Community Health Centre Zubin Potok are organisational units of the Health
Centre Kosovska Mitrovica, while the Community Health Centre Zvecan operates as an
independent institution. Emergency medical assistance is available in the Kosovska Mitrovica
Community Health Centre and the Community Health Centre Zvecan. The Community Health
Centre Kosovska Mitrovica has five outpatient clinics (Banjska, Zerovnica, Suvi Do, Gojbulja,
Banjska-Vucitrn). The Community Health Centre in Leposavic has outpatient clinics in Lesak,
Socanica, Belo Brdo, Vracevo and Borcani, and the Community Health Centre Zubin Potok has a
developed network of outpatient clinics in 10 locations.14 Community Health Centre Zvecan has an
12 The number of contracted workers determined by the Personnel Plan for 2014 was 1415. Source: Minutes
on the Control of Contracted Obligations in the Health Centre Kosovska Mitrovica (2015), the Republic
Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia, available at: http://bit.ly/2tgt0u3. 13 The number of contracted workers determined by the Personnel Plan for 2013 and 2014 was 155. Source:
Minutes on the Control of Contracted Obligations in the Communal Health Centre Zvečan (2015), the
Republic Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia, available at: http://bit.ly/2sX4v2C. 14 Outpatient clinics are in Zupce, Brnjak, Banje, Dren, Lucka Reka, Bube, Crepulja, Cecevo, as well as in
Suvo Grlo and Banje in Srbica.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? HEALTH CARE
11
outpatient clinic in Zitkovac and Grabovac. The secondary level of health care is provided by the
Health Centre Kosovska Mitrovica with 700 beds.15 The total number of employees in this
institution is 1351, of which 975 are employed in the General Hospital Kosovska Mitrovica.
Kosovska Mitrovica Pharmacy is an independent health institution with two offices in Kosovska
Mitrovica and one branch in Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvecan. Since 2006, there is a Public
Health Institute Pristina - Kosovska Mitrovica in Kosovska Mitrovica.16
In addition to these health institutions, in North Kosovo territory there is a branch of the Republic
Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia in Priluzje, Zubin Potok, Leposavic and
Zvecan.17 On 31 December 2016, 46,346 citizens from the area covered by the branch “Kosovska
Mitrovica” had a mandatory health insurance. Sanitary and health surveillance in the area of
population protection in North Kosovo is performed by the Republic Sanitary Inspectorate based in
North Mitrovica.
Functioning of the health care system Health institutions in North Kosovo are functioning within the health care system of the Republic
of Serbia. Since 2007, primary health care is under the jurisdiction of local self-government units,
and according to Serbian legislation, health care centres and pharmacies can be established by local
self-government units. In case a local self-government cannot provide enough funds to take over
the responsibilities of primary health care, community health centres can operate as constituents of
health centres.18 This is exactly the case with the community health centres in Zubin Potok,
Leposavic and Zvecan, which continued to operate within the Health Centre Kosovska Mitrovica.
The exception is the Community Health Centre Zvecan, which is separated as an independent
health institution. Health institutions in North Kosovo are financed from the Republic Fund for
Health and to a small extent from the municipal budget.
Kosovo’s legislation also provides for three levels of health care.19 Primary health care is provided
in the Main Family Medicine Centres and their constituent units (Family Medicine Centres and
Family Medicine Outpatient Units). The second level of health care is provided by general and
special hospitals and health centres, while the tertiary level of protection is provided at university
and clinical institutions.
According to the Kosovo system, municipalities are responsible for the provision and management
of primary health care, and for this purpose, the municipal health care departments have been
established. In Kosovo municipalities, primary health care is funded through a health grant that
municipalities receive from the central budget.20 Of the municipalities in North Kosovo, Mitrovica
North has an extended authority to provide secondary health care under the Kosovo’s Law on
15 The Decree on the Plan of the Network of Health Institutions ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia",
No. 42/2006, 119/2007, 84/2008, 71/2009, 85/2009, 24/2010, 6/2012, 37/2012, 8/2014 and 92/2015) 16 Source: www.zjzkm.rs. 17 Source: http://rfzo.rs/index.php/organizacija-info/orgjedinice/filijale-ispostave. 18 Law on Health Care ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia", No. 107/2005, 72/2009 – other law,
88/2010, 99/2010, 57/2011, 119/2012, 45/2013 – other law, 93/2014, 96/2015 and 106/2015). 19 Law no. 04/L-125 on Health 20 Health Sector Strategy 2017-2021 (2016), Kosovo’s Ministry of Health
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? HEALTH CARE
12
Local Self-Government (Article 20). So far, the municipality of Mitrovica North, like all other
northern municipalities, has not established a municipal health care unit.
In Kosovo, there is still no fully functioning health insurance system. The law21 stipulates that
compulsory health insurance is implemented by the Health Insurance Fund, which is expected to
start operating in 2017. Public health activities are performed by the National Institute of Public
Health in Kosovo.
21 Law no. 04/L -249 on Health Insurance
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? SOCIAL PROTECTION
13
SOCIAL PROTECTION
Social protection institutions In Serbian environments in Kosovo, the Republic of Serbia provides social protection services
through eight social welfare centres and one inter-municipal department for social welfare.2223 In
Mitrovica North, there is the Inter-municipal Social Welfare Centre “Kosovska Mitrovica”,
which, besides this municipality, also covers the municipalities of Zvecan, Pec, Klina, Istok and
Orahovac. In addition, the Social Welfare Centre Srbica has been relocated to Mitrovica North,
and two more social welfare centres are located in the municipalities of Zubin Potok and
Leposavic.
According to the data of the Institute for Social Protection of the Republic of Serbia, in the period
from 2009 to 2012, the average number of employees in all social welfare centres in Kosovo was
136, and the average number of clients in the period from 2009 to 2014 was 16,085.24 According to
these findings, Inter-municipal Social Welfare Centre “Kosovska Mitrovica” has 27 employees,
while the maximum number of employees in this institution is 30 (Table 6). The maximum number
of workers for the Social Welfare Centre Zubin Potok is 9, and there are currently 24 employees.
The total number of employees in the Social Welfare Centre Leposavic is 12.
Table 6 Data about the social welfare centres in North Kosovo
Municipality Social welfare centre Number of
employees
Maximum
number of
employees
Mitrovica North Inter-municipal Social Welfare Centre 27 30
Mitrovica North Social Welfare Centre Srbica25 - 8
Leposavic Social Welfare Centre Leposavić 12 11
Zubin Potok Social Welfare Centre Zubin Potok 24 9
Total 63 58
Source: Information received from interviewees and the Decision on the Maximum Number of Permanent
Employees in the System of State Institutions, Public Services and the System of the Autonomous Province of
Vojvodina and the System of Local Self-Governments for 2017 (“RS Official Gazette” no. 61/2017)
In addition to the Social Welfare Centre, four municipal organisations of Red Cross Serbia have an
active role in the area of social protection of citizens in North Kosovo: Red Cross Kosovska
Mitrovica, Red Cross Zvecan, Red Cross Zubin Potok and Red Cross Leposavic. These
municipal organisations of Red Cross operate within the Provincial Red Cross Organisation in
Kosovo and Metohija. Their work includes distribution of humanitarian aid (food, clothing,
footwear and sanitation), the implementation of preventive health activities, the promotion of blood
donation and other activities in the domain of social protection.
22 Social Welfare Centre Pristina, Social Welfare Centre Kosovska Mitrovica - Zvecan, Social Welfare
Centre Leposavic, Social Welfare Centre Zubin Potok, Social Welfare Centre Srbica, Social Welfare Centre
Vucitrn, Social Welfare Centre Stripce, Social Welfare Centre Kosovska Kamenica. 23 Report on the Work of Social Welfare Centres 2015 (2016), Republic Institute for Social Protection 24 Synthetized Report on the Work of the Social Welfare Centre 2012 and 2014, Republic Institute for Social
Protection 25 During the survey, data on the number of employees in the Social Welfare Centre Srbica were not
collected.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? SOCIAL PROTECTION
14
The Office for Kosovo and Metohija of the Government of the Republic of Serbia also
provides assistance to the socially vulnerable population in North Kosovo in the following way:
assistance to families of returnees, assistance to families of abducted and missing persons and one-
time assistance.26 In addition, the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, in cooperation with the
municipalities in the north, carries out work related to the reconstruction of houses and housing for
returnees, internally displaced persons and socially vulnerable categories of population.
As for social insurance, citizens of four northern municipalities are entitled to pension and
disability insurance through a branch of the Republic Pension and Disability Insurance Fund
(PIO) in Kosovska Mitrovica and two offices in Zubin Potok and Leposavic. The total number of
employees in the branch office in Kosovska Mitrovica is 33. According to the data of this branch,
in April 2017 there were 8,328 pension beneficiaries in total.27
Functioning of social protection In North Kosovo, social welfare centres are social welfare institutions that perform activities
defined by the Law on Social Protection of the Republic of Serbia (“Official Gazette of the
Republic of Serbia”, No. 24/2011) and relevant by-laws. The founder of the social welfare centres
is a local self-government unit, and they can be established for the territory of one or more
municipalities, as is the case with the Inter-municipal Social Welfare Centre “Kosovska
Mitrovica”. Social Welfare Centre carries out activities entrusted by the line ministry of the
Republic of Serbia, and it is obliged to report about the work to the Republic Institute for Social
Protection. The work of the Centre is mostly financed from the budget of the Republic of Serbia.
According to Kosovo’s legislation, municipalities are allowed to deal with social protection of
citizens. At the central level, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare is responsible for social
protection policy and the legal framework. By 2009, the social welfare centres were under the
authority of this ministry, and after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the
Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Local Self-Government Administration, the
Ministry of Economy and Finance and municipalities in Kosovo in January 2009, social welfare
centres are transferred to the jurisdiction of municipalities. Therefore, the municipalities have the
right to establish a social welfare centre, and they are ultimately responsible for providing social
and family services on their territory. Centres provide social assistance to families in accordance
with the social assistance scheme, and it is planned that they are managed by municipal social
protection bodies.28 Social Welfare Centres of the Kosovo system have been established in the
municipalities of North Kosovo and they function alongside the Centres from the Serbian system.
As for the work of the Red Cross, the Law on Red Cross Serbia stipulates that municipal
organisations of the Red Cross are granted public authority, and for their realisation funds are
allocated from the municipal budget or the budget of the Republic of Serbia.29 On this basis, the
Office for Kosovo and Metohija supports the activities of the municipal organisations of Red Cross
26 Report on the Work of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija 2016 (2017), Office for Kosovo and Metohija 27 Monthly Statistical Bulletin IV/2017 (2017), the Republic Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia 28 Law no. 04/L-096 on Amendments to the Law no. 2003/15 on the Social Welfare Scheme in Kosovo 29 Law on Red Cross Serbia ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia", No. 107/2005)
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? SOCIAL PROTECTION
15
in North Kosovo in the form of payment of salaries for their employees. 30 The Kosovo Red Cross
also operates in Kosovo, which is helping Kosovo authorities distribute humanitarian aid, and the
Kosovo Government provides funds for its work.
The pension system in Kosovo is organised on three levels: basic pension, pensions based on
personal savings and supplementary pension of the employer and the individual. Due to armed
conflicts in Kosovo, in 1999, the functioning of the pension system was terminated and records on
contributions to pension insurance were lost. Due to this situation, a new pension system in Kosovo
has been introduced, which gives basic pensions to every citizen who is over 65 years of age. The
second level of pension insurance is based on personal savings, which implies monthly
contributions to employee pension insurance. The third level of insurance is supplementary pension
of an employer or an individual, on a voluntary basis.31 Contrary to the Kosovo pension system, the
Serbian Republic Pension and Disability Insurance Fund pays pensions to former fund users in
Kosovo through its branch office in Mitrovica North.
30 Report on the Work of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija 2016 (2017), Office for Kosovo and Metohija 31 https://www.rks-gov.net/sr-latn-cs/qytetaret/beneficionetasistenca/pages/pensioni.aspx
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
16
OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Public companies of the Republic of Serbia The Republic of Serbia is the founder of several public companies and companies operating in
North Kosovo. One of them is a Limited Liability Company for Strategic Purchase and
Distribution of Agricultural Products “Metohija”, based in Mitrovica North. In 2013, the
Republic of Serbia established the company “Metohija” for the purchase and distribution of
agricultural products of the Serbian and non-Albanian population, distribution of basic food
products to this population, as well as for the planning and implementation of agricultural
development programs in the territory of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.32
According to the records of the Business Registers Agency, “Metohija” has seven employees.
The Public Company for the Development and Improvement of Information through
Electronic Media in Serbian in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija “Mreza-
Most”, established in 2010, also operates in North Kosovo.33 This public company, with
headquarters in Belgrade, performs activities aimed at coordinating and providing assistance to
electronic media broadcasting a program in Serbian language in Kosovo. Within the Public
Company “Mreza - Most” there are two TV stations (TV Most in Zvecan, TV Puls in Silov) and
two radio stations (Radio Kosovska Mitrovica and Radio Gracanica). The total number of
employees in the public enterprise is 147.34
The Public Enterprise for Water Supply and Production and Distribution of Electricity
“Ibar” is located in Zubin Potok, and it was established by the decision of the Government of
Serbia in 2002 with the intention to manage the Ibar-Lepenac hydropower system. Public company
“Ibar” operates according to Serbian legislation and it is not recognised by the legal system of
Kosovo. Simultaneously, the Ibar-Lepenac hydrosystem is operated by the Public Company “Ibar-
Lepenac” with headquarters in Pristina.
The activities in the field of forest protection and management are carried out by the Forestry
Authority “Ibar” Leposavic, which operates within the public company “Srbijašume” with
headquarters in Belgrade. Within the Forestry Authority “Ibar” Leposavic, there are two forest
administrations: Leposavic and Zubin Potok. Public company “Srbijašume” partially helps the
functioning of “Ibar” Leposavic in accordance with the decision of the Managing Board of
“Srbijasume” no. 24 / 2004-2 of 1 March 2004.35 The total number of employees in “Ibar”
Leposavic is 102. In the Kosovo system, the competent body for managing public and private
forest land and forests in national parks is the Kosovo Forest Agency, which operates under the
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development. Since 2010, according to the Law on
32 Decision on the Establishment of a Limited Liability Company for Strategic Purchase and Distribution of
Agricultural Products "Metohija" Kosovska Mitrovica ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia" No.
27/2013 and 38/2013 - corr.). 33 Decision on the Establishment of the Public Company for the Development and Improvement of
Information through Electronic Media in Serbian in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija
("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia" No. 38/10). 34 Source: Business Registers Agency of the Republic of Serbia 35 Annual Program of the Public Company for Forest Management “Srbijašume” 2017, available at:
http://bit.ly/2u9Ji8Y
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
17
Local Self-Governments no. 03 / L-040, municipalities have been given competencies by the
Agency related to the protection of forests and the issuing of permits for logging of public and
private forests. However, in Leposavic and Zubin Potok, municipalities have taken over the
responsibility of the Kosovo Forest Agency only to issue permits for private forests in this area.
In the territory of North Kosovo, there are three companies that are part of the Public Company
“Elektroprivreda Srbije” (EPS): Termoelektrane Kosovo, Povrsinski kopovi Kosovo and
Elektrokosmet Pristina. EPS’ website indicates that since mid-1999, EPS has no control over the
operation of these companies, i.e. “does not manage power and mining capacities in the area of
Kosmet”.36 In the three-year business program of JP EPS for 2017-2019, it is estimated that these
three companies had 4097 employees in 2016.37 The public company for the distribution of
electricity “Elektrokosmet Pristina” provides electricity in four municipalities in North Kosovo and
has a total of 634 employees.38 JP Elektrodistribucija, as part of “Elektrokosmet Pristina”, is
located in Mitrovica North, and it has units in Zubin Potok and Leposavic. In September 2013, the
“Energy Agreement” was reached, as a part of the Brussels Agreement, where it was agreed that
Kosovo would allow EPS to establish electricity supply and trading companies in North Kosovo, in
line with Kosovo's legislation.39 Implementation of the agreements in the field of energy is
underway and the registration of the company “EPS trgovina” Ltd. and “Elektrosever” Ltd. is
currently ongoing.40
The company “Infrastructure of the Serbian Railways” operates a railway network in North
Kosovo, which extends over the territory of the municipalities of Leposavic, Zvecan and Mitrovica
North. The railway infrastructure consists of three stations in Leposavic (Ibarska Slatina, Leposavic
and Lešak), three stations in Zvecan (Zvecan, Valac, Banjska) and one station in Mitrovica North
(Kosovska Mitrovica - North). In 2013, a railway station was built in Mitrovica North and the
Zvecan - Kosovska Mitrovica (North) railway line was built, which made it possible to have a
regular railway transport between Kraljevo and Kosovska Mitrovica (North) as of October 2013.
From March 2008 to October 2013, rail traffic did not operate on this route. In case of road
infrastructure, the Public Company “Putevi Srbije” is engaged in the maintenance and
construction of roads in North Kosovo through its branch office in Mitrovica North.
In North Kosovo, postal services are provided by regional unit “Kosovo and Metohija” of the
Public Company “Posta Srbije” (Serbian Postal Company), based in Gracanica, through their post
offices in Mitrovica North, Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok. The regional unit “Kosovo and
Metohija” includes 31 post offices with a total of 232 employees.41 In addition to postal services,
public company “Posta Srbije” makes payments to pension beneficiaries of the Republic Pension
Fund. On the other hand, in the Kosovo system, postal services are provided by “Posta Kosova
36 Source: Public Company “Elektroprivreda Srbije” 37 Three-year operational program of the Public Company "Elektroprivreda Srbije" 2017-2019 (2017), Public
Company “Elektroprivreda Srbije”, available at: http://bit.ly/2uiRtNs 38 Source: Business Registers Agency of the Republic of Serbia 39 Conclusions of the EU mediators on the implementation of the 2013 Energy Agreement, available on the
website of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija: http://www.kim.gov.rs/lat/p20.php 40 Progress Report on the Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina for the period October 2016 - April 2017
(2017), Government of the Republic of Serbia, available at: http://bit.ly/2txK3p2 41 Information Booklet (2017), Public company “Pošta Srbije”, available at: http://bit.ly/2tzz5B5
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
18
d.d.”, but this company does not have a developed postal network in four northern municipalities.
So far, no cooperation has been established between “Posta Srbije” and “Posta Kosova d.d.”.
Public institutions of the Republic of Serbia
Public finance
Tax Administration of the Republic of Serbia has one branch in Mitrovica North and offices in
Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok, and four other offices are located in other municipalities in
Kosovo.42 Public revenue affairs are organised in the branch and offices in accordance with the
Serbian legislation. Turnover between the Republic of Serbia and Kosovo is regulated by the
decrees of the Government of the Republic of Serbia from 2013,43 according to which the value
added tax (VAT) is not calculated and not paid for the sale of goods that VAT taxpayers make from
the territory of Serbia to the territory of Kosovo. Within the Kosovo system, tax is collected
through the Tax Administration of Kosovo, which has a regional office in Mitrovica South.
Enterprises and organizations from North Kosovo that have a statute of a legal entity under Kosovo
legislation are obliged to settle their tax obligations in the Tax Administration of Kosovo.
The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Serbia also has a branch of the Treasury Department.
The branch is located in Mitrovica North, and the offices are located in Leposavic, Zubin Potok,
Pristina, Gnjilane and Strpce. Activities related to public payments and financial statistics are
conducted through the branch office in Mitrovica North. In the area of North Kosovo, the National
Bank of Serbia carries out activities within its jurisdiction through a branch in Kragujevac and a
counter in Mitrovica North.
Economy
In Mitrovica North there is also an organisational unit of the Business Registers Agency of the
Republic of Serbia, which makes it possible for companies from Kosovo to register according to
the laws of the Republic of Serbia. On the other hand, business entities that want to operate within
the Kosovo system are registered at the Agency for Business Registration in Kosovo through the
municipal centre for business registration of the municipality of Mitrovica North.44 Namely,
according to the Law on Local Self-Government, no. 03/L - no. 040, the central government of
Kosovo entrusted municipalities with jurisdiction over the registration of companies and other
business entities, and therefore the registration is done in municipal centres. In the municipalities of
North Kosovo, the registration of business entities is still not fully functioning.
42 Offices of the Tax Administration: Gracanica, Leposavic, Ranilug, Silovo, Strpce, Zubin Potok and
Zvecan. Source: Information Booklet (2017), Tax Administration of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic
of Serbia. 43 Decree on the Enforcement of the Law on Value Added Tax Act in the Territory of the Autonomous
Province of Kosovo and Metohija during the time of the validity of UN Security Council Resolution 1244;
Decree on Execution of the Law on Excise Duties in the Territory of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo
and Metohija during the validity of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Decree on Amendments to
the Decree on Special Conditions for the Sale of Goods with the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and
Metohija. 44 The municipality of Mitrovica North was formed in 2013 after the first local elections held under the
Kosovo laws in North Kosovo. Prior to that, there was a Mitrovica North Administrative Office in Mitrovica
North.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
19
The National Employment Service of the Republic of Serbia has a Provincial Employment
Service in Mitrovica North, which monitors the work of the branch “Kosovska Mitrovica”, the
branch “Pristina” in Gracanica and the branch “Gnjilane” in Ranilug. Branch “Kosovska
Mitrovica” has organisational units in Leposavic, Zubin Potok, Zvecan, Vucitrn, Srbica and Istok.45
The Provincial Service of the National Employment Service has six employees, and the branch
“Kosovska Mitrovica” has 36 employees.46 According to the records of the National Employment
Service in Kosovo, there were 22,149 unemployed persons at the end of 2016, of which 8,340 were
registered in the “Kosovska Mitrovica” branch.47
In addition to regular activities in the area of employment and unemployment insurance, the
National Employment Service also performs entrusted tasks of payment of temporary
compensation.48 This type of compensation is for “those who had been employed by a public
organisation or company in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija no later than June 9, 1999, and
now they do not receive any wages on that basis, they have not been employed, have not met
requirements for retirement, have not exercised the right to a monetary compensation during the
unemployment and do not earn income from work and property.”49 In 2016, the National
Employment Service paid on average 15,284 temporary compensation monthly on this basis.50
In the Kosovo system, the records of unemployed and employment mediation are carried out within
the municipal employment offices and regional employment centres, which operate under the
supervision of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. In North Kosovo, there is a regional
office Mitrovica which is the umbrella office for the municipal employment offices in Leposavic,
Zubin Potok and Zvecan.51
Agriculture
The Agricultural Service “Kosovska Mitrovica”, established by the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia, is operating in North Kosovo, with the
purpose of improving agricultural production on the territory of the Kosovska Mitrovica District.
Therefore, this service operates in the areas of the municipalities of Mitrovica North, Zvecan,
Zubin Potok, Leposavic, Vucitrn and Srbica. Conditions and work of advisory services are defined
by the Law on the Performance of Advisory and Expert Activities in Agriculture (“Official Gazette
of RS”, No. 30/10). The work of the Agricultural Service Kosovska Mitrovica is organised through
45 Information Booklet of the National Employment Service (2017), National Employment Service, available
at: http://bit.ly/2tM7POt 46 In the branch Kosovska Mitrovica there are 27 full-time employees and 9 temporary employees. Source:
Ibid. 47 The Work Report of the National Employment Service 2016 (2016), National Employment Service
available at: http://bit.ly/2uar3Q1 48 Temporary compensation is paid based on the Conclusion of the Government of the Republic of Serbia 05
no: 02-4586/2003-001 of 17 July 2003 and the Conclusion of the Government of the Republic of Serbia 05
no: 120-6051/2010 of 26 August 2010. 49 Recommendation of the Ombudsman to the National Employment Service regarding the payment of
temporary compensations, 15 September 2015. 50 The Work Report of the National Employment Service 2016 (2016), National Employment Service,
available at: http://bit.ly/2uar3Q1 51 Municipal Employment Office in the municipality of Srbica and Vucitrn also operate under the regional
office of Mitrovica. Source: Annual Report "Labour and Employment" for 2015 (2016), Department for
Labour and Employment, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, available at: http://bit.ly/2u8LLjx
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
20
services for farming, cattle breeding, fruit growing and plant protection, and it is implemented by
four employees. Until 1999, the service was located in the southern part of Mitrovica, and today it
is located in the northern part of the city.52
Kosovo legislation also defines the work of advisory services for agriculture.53 Within the Ministry
of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development there is a Department for Advisory and
Professional Services, which organises the work of advisory services and supports the work of
municipal information and advisory centres for agriculture and rural development. In the previous
period, the competent ministry encouraged the conversion of municipal advisory offices for
agriculture into municipal information and advisory centres for agriculture and rural development,
as foreseen by the Strategy of Advisory Services in Agriculture and Rural Development 2012-
2016. In municipalities in North Kosovo, the provision of advisory services in the field of
agriculture and rural development according to Kosovo’s system is still not functioning.
Culture
Regarding cultural institutions, in North Kosovo there are institutions that were relocated from the
territories with the majority Albanian population after 1999. The Historical Archive “Kosovska
Mitrovica” is located in Zvecan, and the Provincial Institute for the Protection of Cultural
Monuments “Pristina” and the Provincial Cultural Centre “Pristina” were relocated to
Leposavic. The Historical Archive performs the tasks of protecting archival material in the territory
of municipalities: Kosovska Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, Srbica and Vucitrn,54
while the activities of keeping local registers and protection of cultural heritage in Kosovo are
performed by the Provincial Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments “Pristina”.55 The
Ministry of Culture provides conditions for the work of these institutions and supervises the
implementation of the program for the protection of immovable cultural goods in Kosovo.
According to the decision of the Government of the Republic of Serbia on the maximum number of
employees for an indefinite period for 2017, the Provincial Institute for the Protection of Cultural
Monuments Pristina may have a maximum of 16 employees, the Historical Archive “Kosovska
Mitrovica” 7, and the Provincial Cultural Centre “Pristina” 5.56
Judicial system
In North Kosovo, the judicial system of the Republic of Serbia consists of: the Basic Court in
Kosovska Mitrovica, the Appellate Court in Kosovska Mitrovica, the Misdemeanour Court in
Kosovska Mitrovica, the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Kosovska Mitrovica and the
Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Kosovska Mitrovica.57
52 Source: Agricultural Advisory and Professional Services of Serbia, https://www.psss.rs 53 Law no. 04/L-074 on Advisory Services for Agriculture and Rural Development 54 Decision on the Definition of the Territory for Archives ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia" No.
7/96). 55 Decision on the Definition of the Territory of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments
("Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia" No. 48/98). 56 Decision on the Maximum Number of Permanent Employees in the System of State Institutions, Public
Services and the System of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the System of Local Self-
Governments for 2017 (“RS Official Gazette” no. 61/2017) 57 Maps of Courts and Public Prosecutors in the Republic of Serbia, available at:
http://www.mpravde.gov.rs/nova_mreza_sudova.php
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21
Table 7 Maximum number of employees in judicial institutions for 2017 in North Kosovo
Municipality Judicial institution Number of
employees
Mitrovica North Basic Court in Kosovska Mitrovica 87
Mitrovica North Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Kosovska
Mitrovica
10
Mitrovica North Misdemeanour Court in Kosovska Mitrovica 48
Zvecan Appellate Court in Kosovska Mitrovica 34
Zvecan Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Kosovska
Mitrovica
7
Total 186
Source: Decision on the Maximum Number of Permanent Employees in the System of State Institutions,
Public Services and the System of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the System of Local Self-
Governments for 2017 (“RS Official Gazette” no. 61/2017)
The Appellate Court and the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office are located in Zvecan, while the
other judicial authorities are located in Mitrovica North. According to the decision of the
Government of the Republic of Serbia on the maximum number of employees in public
institutions, it is envisaged that in 2017, the total number of employees in these judicial bodies is
186, of which the maximum is allowed in the Basic Court (87, Table 7).
In 2013, the process of integration of these judicial authorities into the legal system of Kosovo
started. Namely, with the signing of the First Agreement of Principles Governing the
Normalization of Relations between Belgrade and Pristina, known as the “Brussels Agreement”,
negotiations in the field of justice have begun. On the basis of point 10 of this Agreement (the
judicial system), in February 2015, a Judicial Agreement was signed, and in November 2016 the
Conclusions of the EU Mediators on the Judicial System were adopted, which includes the steps to
complete the integration of the judicial system.58 The agreement on the judicial system includes the
following: there will be one Basic Court and one Primary Prosecutor's Office for the Mitrovica
region, the Basic Court in Mitrovica will be located in several facilities (in Mitrovica South and
Mitrovica North) with branches in Zubin Potok, Leposavic, Srbica and Vucitrn, and the Appellate
Court Department will have an office in Mitrovica North.59 So far, a list of judges, prosecutors and
administrative staff has been confirmed to integrate into the judicial system, and further
negotiations on problematic issues in this area are ongoing.60
Real estate cadastre
In North Kosovo there is the Real Estate Cadastre Office “Kosovska Mitrovica” based in
Zvecan and the Real Estate Cadastre Office “Leposavic” in Leposavic, which operate as a part of
the Republic Geodetic Authority of Serbia. The Real Estate Cadastre Office “Kosovska Mitrovica”
and the associated Zubin Potok Cadastre Office cover the territory of the municipalities of
Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvecan, Srbica and Zubin Potok.61
58 Progress Report on the Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina for the period October 2016 - April 2017
(2017), Government of the Republic of Serbia, available at: http://bit.ly/2txK3p2 59 Source: http://www.kim.gov.rs/p06.php 60 Ibid. 61 Information Booklet (2017), Republic Geodetic Authority, available at: http://bit.ly/2v9mJhS
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
22
After the events in 1999, all cadastral documents from the territory of Kosovo were relocated to
Krusevac, and the Government issued a decision banning the registration of changes in this
documentation, in order to preserve the ownership data.62 On the other hand, in 2000, the Kosovo
Cadastre Agency was established by UN-Habitat, after which municipal cadastre offices were
established.63 However, due to the relocation of cadastral documents to Serbia, the problem of lack
of updated data in the Kosovo cadastre has been created, which ultimately led to the difficult
realisation of citizens' property rights.
In order to solve this issue of cadastre records, representatives of Belgrade and Pristina signed a
Technical Agreement on Cadastre, in September 2011, as part of the Brussels negotiation process.
Under this agreement, Belgrade undertook to transfer the cadastre records from the territory of
Kosovo.64 In March 2016, the digitisation of cadastre documents was completed, and in 1999 it was
relocated to Serbia.65 However, all the issues that are defined by the agreement have not been
solved and further negotiations regarding the cadastre are expected.
Other institutions of the Republic of Serbia The Kosovska Mitrovica Administrative District is the regional centre of the state administration
of the Republic of Serbia with headquarters in Mitrovica North. According to the Decree on
Administrative Districts (“Official Gazette of RS” No. 15/2006), the Kosovska Mitrovica
Administrative District performs state administration affairs in the territory of the following
municipalities: Vucitrn, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, Mitrovica North, Leposavic and Srbica. The
administrative district is responsible for: resolving administrative matters in the first instance, i.e.
appeals against first instance decisions of holders of public authorisations, supervision of the work
of holders of public authorisations and inspection supervision.66 The work of the administrative
district is managed by the head of district, and cooperation with the municipalities is realised
through the Council of the Administrative District. The organizational structure of the
administrative district consists of the head of the administrative district, the expert service of the
administrative district with 7 employees and 11 inspection services with a total of 27 chiefs and
inspectors.67 Within this administrative district, the inspection services operate in the field of trade
(market inspection), health (health inspection, sanitary inspection), energy (electric energy
inspection), agriculture and environmental protection (veterinary inspection, agricultural
inspection, water inspection, plant protection, environmental protection inspections), employment
(labour inspection) and education (educational inspection).68
62 Information Booklet 2014 (2014), Office for Kosovo and Metohija 63 Source: Ministry of Environmental and Urban Planning, mmph-rks.org/sr/Kosovska-Agencija-za-Katastar 64 On this basis, the Republic Geodetic Authority received financial support through the EU project
"Exchange of cadastral data between Belgrade and Pristina". Progress Report on the Dialogue between
Belgrade and Pristina for the period April - October 2015 (2015), Government of the Republic of Serbia,
available at: http://bit.ly/2vb57Ca 65 Progress Report on the Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina for the period April - October 2016 (2016),
Government of the Republic of Serbia, available at: http://bit.ly/2vvIdVM 66 The competence of the administrative district is defined by the Law on State Administration (Official
Gazette of the Republic of Serbia No. 79/2005, 101/2007, 95/2010 and 99/2014) and the Decree on
Administrative Districts ("Official Gazette of RS", no. 15/2006). 67 Source: http://www.kosovskomitrovackiokrug.rs/organizaciona-struktura/ 68 Source: www.kosovskomitrovackiokrug.rs/organizaciona-struktura/
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
23
In addition to this administrative district, four other administrative districts in Kosovo were formed
by the Government of Serbia by the Decree on Administrative Districts (“Official Gazette of the
Republic of Serbia” No. 15/2006): Kosovo Administrative District, Pec Administrative District,
Prizren Administrative District and Kosovsko-Pomoravski Administrative District. Upon the
arrival of the UNMIK mission in 2000, a new administrative division was introduced according to
which Kosovo has seven administrative districts: Djakovica District, Gnjilane District, Kosovska-
Mitrovica District, Pec District, Pristina District, Prizren District and Urosevac District.
In North Kosovo, apart from the administrative districts, affairs for the needs of the Government of
the Republic of Serbia are also performed by the Office for Kosovo and Metohija. In 2013, the
Government of the Republic of Serbia established this office by the Decree on the Office for
Kosovo and Metohija (“Official Gazette of RS” No. 75/12, 123/12 and 100/13) for the purpose of
performing professional tasks for the needs of the Government and the competent ministries related
to the functioning of the institutions of the Republic of Serbia in the territory of Kosovo.69
The Office carries out tasks related to: education, health, social policy, culture, infrastructure,
telecommunications, cultural heritage protection, the system of local self-government, the activities
of the Serbian Orthodox Church, assistance to internally displaced persons, as well as other tasks
within its competence. In accordance with the budget of the Republic of Serbia, the Office transfers
funds for payment of salaries in administrative bodies, public companies and institutions whose
founders are municipalities in the territory of Kosovo.70 In addition, the Office plays an important
role in the negotiation process with the European Union on Chapter 35 on the normalisation of
relations between Serbia and Kosovo.
The Office’s work is organized in seven sectors in accordance with the entrusted tasks and four
branches of the Office located in Kosovska Mitrovica, Gracanica, Gnjilane and Kraljevo. In 2014,
the Office for Kosovo and Metohija had 66 employees, and the maximum allowed number of
employees according to the Government's decision for 2017 is 71.7172
69 Source: www.kim.gov.rs 70 Report on the Work of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija for the period January – December 2016
(2017), Office for Kosovo and Metohija 71 Work report 2014 (2014), Office for Kosovo and Metohija 72 Decision on the Maximum Number of Permanent Employees in the System of State Institutions, Public
Services and the System of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the System of Local Self-
Governments for 2017 (“RS Official Gazette” no. 61/2017)
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? CONCLUSION
24
LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT UNITS AND LOCAL INSTITUTIONS
Local self-government units With the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244/99, the administration of UNMIK73
was established in 1999 and the state authorities of the Republic of Serbia withdrew from areas
with the majority Albanian population. However, in municipalities in North Kosovo, local self-
government units retained the existing institutional framework and continued to function according
to the laws of the Republic of Serbia.74 Therefore, in these municipalities, local self-governments
remained to operate as legal entities in the system of the Republic of Serbia: Municipality of
Kosovska Mitrovica, Municipality of Leposavic, Municipality of Zvecan and Municipality of
Zubin Potok, which have 392 employees in total (Table 8).
Table 8 Number of employees in municipal administrations in the Serbian system
Local self-government unit Number of employees
Municipality of Kosovska
Mitrovica
110
Municipality of Leposavić 95
Municipality of Zvečan 67
Municipality of Zubin Potok 120
Total 392
Source: Information obtained from interviews
Following the signing of the Brussels Agreement in 2013 and the first local elections in North
Kosovo under the Kosovo laws, the process of forming local self-governments began in accordance
with Kosovo's laws in November of the same year. With this process, new statutes of
municipalities were adopted, creating local self-government units in the legal system of Kosovo.
However, the elections did not involve the takeover of local administrations from the Serbian
system, and municipal departments in accordance with the Kosovo system have not been formed.75
These events have led to the fact that in each municipality in of Kosovo there are two municipal
administrations, one that operates under the laws of Serbia and is headed by a president of a
provisional authority appointed by the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and the other that
operates under the laws of Kosovo and is governed by a mayor elected in Kosovo's local elections.
Regarding the legal framework important for the functioning of municipalities, the Republic of
Serbia and Kosovo have adopted the Laws on Local Self-Government, which differ to a certain
extent, primarily with regard to the scope of competencies. The Law on Local Self-Government of
the Republic of Serbia (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, No. 129/2007 and 83/2014 –
other Law) defines the competencies of municipalities in accordance with the Constitution related
to: adoption of development programs, urban plans, budget and final account, performing
73 UNMIK - United Nations Mission in Kosovo 74 Local Self-Governments in North Kosovo: a Dodgeball Game (2017), InTER – Institute for Territorial
Economic Development 75 Ibid.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? CONCLUSION
25
communal activities, establishment of institutions and organizations in the field of primary
education, culture, primary health care, social protection, etc.
On the other hand, according to the Kosovo Law No. 03/L -040 on Local Self-Government,
municipalities have a wider range of responsibilities, especially in terms of education, health and
social protection, as well as other areas. Municipalities in Kosovo, including the three
municipalities in North Kosovo (Zubin Potok, Leposavic and Zvecan) are entitled to deal with
preschool, primary and secondary education, while the municipality of Mitrovica North has an
extended authority in providing higher education. As for health care, municipalities in Kosovo and
the three municipalities in North Kosovo are in charge of providing primary health care, while the
municipality of Mitrovica North has an extended authority in providing secondary health care. In
the area of social protection, municipalities in Kosovo are fully responsible for providing social
assistance in their territory.
Concerning the negotiation process between Belgrade and Pristina, the Brussels Agreement
provides for the establishment of the Community/Association of Serb Municipalities in
Kosovo.76 The Community of Serb Municipalities should supervise the areas of economic
development, education, health, urban and rural planning, with the possibility of exercising other
competencies entrusted to the central government in Kosovo.77 Although the establishment of the
Community is one of the most important points of agreement, it has not started yet.
Public companies of local self-governments Four northern municipalities in Kosovo have established nine public companies that operate
according to the laws of the Republic of Serbia. The municipality of Kosovska Mitrovica is the
founder of four public companies that manage water supply, waste disposal, construction land and
housing activities in this municipality. Public Utility & Water Supply Company “Ibar” provides
water supply and deals with water treatment and disposal of atmospheric and wastewater.78
Another public utility company operating in this municipality is the Public Utility Enterprise
“Standard”, established for the collection of waste and maintenance of public areas. The company
consists of business units “Cistoca” (sanitation), “Toplana” (heating), “Hortikultura” (horticulture),
“Pijaca” (green markets), “Tehnicka sluzba” (technical service) and “Parking servis” (parking).79
According to the available data of the Agency for Business Registers for 2015, Public Utility &
Water Supply Company “Ibar” has 83 employees, while the Public Utility Company “Standard”
has 140.
76 First agreement of principles governing the normalization of relations, available at:
www.kim.gov.rs/p03.php 77 Ibid. 78 Decision on Amending the Decision on Changing the Founding Act of the Public Enterprise "Public Utility
& Water Supply Ibar Kosovska Mitrovica" (2014), Provisional Authority of Kosovska Mitrovica
Municipality 79 Decision on Changing the Statute of the Pubic Utility Company “Standard” Kosovska Mitrovica (2016),
Provisional Authority of Kosovska Mitrovica Municipality
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? CONCLUSION
26
Public Enterprise “Directorate for Construction Land and Roads” has the authority to deal
with construction projects, construction of roads, pipelines and demolition of buildings, electrical
installations and other related activities, and this work is done by 15 employees.80 In the area of
residential and office space maintenance, the Municipality of Kosovska Mitrovica has founded the
Public Enterprise “Directorate for Residential and Commercial Space” and it is the founder of
the company “Public Enterprise for Urban Planning, Design and Engineering and Urban
Planning”, which has eight employees.81
Public Utility and Housing Company “Zvecan” was established in Zvecan for the provision of
utility and housing services such as: waste collection and disposal, water supply, construction of
residential and non-residential buildings, electrical installations, plumbing and utility systems, as
well as other related activities.82 According to available data from the Business Registers Agency,
this public company had 48 employees in 2015, and according to the findings of this survey, the
company currently has 54 employees.
The Municipality of Zubin Potok founded the Public Utility Company “Ibar” mainly for the
treatment and distribution of drinking water, and waste collection and disposal.83 In addition, the
municipality is the founder of the Public Company “Directorate for Construction Land, Roads
and Development” which ensures management, use, improvement and protection of construction
land, and organises maintenance and protection of roads and public facilities on the territory of this
municipality.84 These two companies employ a total of 110 employees, of which 80 are employed
in the Company “Ibar” and 30 in the Directorate.
Public Utility Company “24 November” deals with public utility affairs in Leposavic
municipality. This public company provides services of water supply, sanitation and maintenance
of public areas.85 According to the website of the Business Registers Agency, the company “24.
November” has 67 employees. For the maintenance of construction land and roads, the Public
Company “Directorate for Construction Land and Roads” is in charge, which currently has 12
employees.
80 Decision on Amendments to the Founding Act of the Public Company “Directorate for Construction Land
and Roads” Kosovska Mitrovica (2016), Provisional Authority of Kosovska Mitrovica Municipality 81 Source: Business Registers Agency of the Republic of Serbia 82 Statute of the Public Utility and Housing Company “Zvečan” Zvečan (2016), Provisional Authority of
Zvecan Municipality 83 Decision on the Harmonisation of Operations of the Public Utility Company “Ibar” Zubin Potok with the
Law on Public Companies (2016), Provisional Authority of Zubin Potok Municipality 84 Decision on Amendments to the Founding Act of the Public Company “Directorate for Construction Land,
Roads and Development” (2013), Provisional Authority of Zubin Potok Municipality 85 Decision on the Harmonisation of Operations of the Public Utility Company “24. Novembar” Leposavic
with the Law on Public Companies (2016), Provisional Authority of Leposavic Municipality
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? CONCLUSION
27
The listed public companies operate under the Serbian legislation. According to the Law on Public
Enterprises (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia”, No. 15/2016), the public company
performs activities of general interest and may be established by the Republic of Serbia, an
autonomous province or a local self-government unit. This new Law on Public Enterprises, which
came into force in March 2016, brought changes in the field of management, planning, reporting
and control of public companies. For this reason, the municipalities from North Kosovo had an
obligation to harmonise the founding acts of public companies with the provisions of the new Law.
This law prescribes that municipalities appoint a director of a public company, supervise the
operations of the company, give their consent to the work program, and when necessary provide
the conditions for the undisturbed performance of the company's work.
In Kosovo's Law on Public Enterprises (Law No. 04/L-111, Law No. 03/L-087, Law No. 05/L-
009), public enterprises owned by the Government or municipalities are listed. According to this
law, the Government is authorised to change the list of public enterprises and classify “any
enterprise for which it has been established that it is 50% or more, directly or indirectly, in the
overall public ownership of the Republic of Kosovo and/or one or more public authorities of the
Republic of Kosovo…”. The list of local public companies includes the following public
companies operating in four northern municipalities: Waste Management Company “JKP Stanard”
Mitrovica, Waste Management Company “JKSP Zvecan” Zvečan; Company for plumbing and
waste “Ibar” Zubin Potok; Waste Company “24 November” Leposavic; as well as the bus station
Mitrovica, the bus station Leposavic, the bus station Zubin Potok and the bus station Zvecan.
According to Kosovo legislation, municipalities have the right to establish local public enterprises
in accordance with “Decree no. 02/2013 on the Criteria for the Establishment of Local Public
Companies and the Participation of Municipalities in Boards of Directors of Regional Water
Supply Companies”. All public enterprises, whether owned by the Government of Kosovo (central
public enterprises) or by municipalities (local public enterprises), must be established as joint stock
companies. The work of local public companies is supervised by municipalities that fully bear
responsibility for their operations.86
Public institutions of local self-governments Local governments in North Kosovo are founders of cultural institutions. In the municipality of
Kosovska Mitrovica, there is a Cultural Centre “Dragica Zarkovic”, which organises several
programs: drama, folklore, literary, film, visual, music and amateur. The total number of
employees in this institution is 17.87 This municipality has established the City Museum and
Library “Vuk Karadzic” which also operates in the system of the Republic of Serbia.
86 Proposal of the Concept Document on Public Companies (2017), Ministry of Economic Development,
available at: http://bit.ly/2vD5rJn 87 http://kckm.org/o-nama/
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? CONCLUSION
28
Municipality of Leposavic is the founder of the Cultural Centre “Sava Decanac”, whose main
activity is organisation of cultural events in Leposavic, Lesak and Socanica. The Culture and Art
Association Kopaonik is also a part of this institution. The Cultural Centre “Sava Decanac” has 28
employees. Also, the local self-government established the National Library “Sveti Sava”.
In Zubin Potok there is a Cultural Centre “Stari Kolasin”. By the beginning of 2017, this
institution operated as a Public Enterprise for Newspaper and Publishing, Information and Cultural
Activities “Stari Kolašin”, when there was a change in the legal form of the public company to a
public institution.88 Within the Cultural Center “Stari Kolašin”, there is the library “Petar Petrović
Njegoš”. Total number of employees in this institution is 20.
As for the system of Kosovo, according to the Law no. 02/L-57 on Cultural Institutions in Kosovo,
the founders of cultural institutions may be: the Assembly of Kosovo, the Government of Kosovo,
the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the municipality and any other natural or legal entity, if
clearly permitted by the law. The municipality can establish an institution on the municipal level,
while several municipalities can establish an inter-municipal institution.
In the area of sport, there are several institutions in municipalities in North Kosovo that operate in
the system of the Republic of Serbia. The municipality of Kosovska Mitrovica has established the
Institute for Sports, Youth and Specialised Services which is responsible for performing sports
activities, cultural events and providing specialised services to persons with special needs. The total
number of employees in this institution is 47. In this municipality there is also the Sports Centre
“Kosovska Mitrovica”.
Sport and Recreation Centre “Mokra Gora” was founded by the municipality of Zubin Potok
and it is responsible for the organisation of various sports events and competitions for students of
primary and secondary schools, as well as for maintenance of sports facilities in this municipality.
Sport and Recreation Centre “Mokra Gora” has 30 employees.
In Leposavic municipality, there is a Sports and Tourism Organization “Leposavic”, established
with the aim of improving and developing sports and tourism. It is responsible for the organisation
of sports events, cooperation and assistance to sports clubs, as well as promotion of tourist
potentials of Leposavic municipality. There are 23 sports clubs in Leposavic, registered at the
Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Serbia.
In the Serbian system, institutions in the field of sport can be founders, in accordance with the law
governing public services, the Republic of Serbia, the autonomous province and the local self-
government. Municipalities operating in the Kosovo system, according to the Law no. 2003/24 on
Sports, should provide their own funding for financing of sports.89 It is also envisaged that
municipalities have established departments for sports, youth and culture that are responsible for
organisation of sports events.
88 Decision on Deleting the Public Enterprise for Newspaper and Publishing, Information and Cultural
Activities "Stari Kolašin" Zubin Potok from the Register of Business Entities (2017), Business Registers
Agency 89 Law no. 2003/24 on Sports, available at: http://bit.ly/2vmBgH3
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? CONCLUSION
29
CONCLUSION
Serbian people in Kosovo have remained in this region mostly thanks to the institutions of the
Republic of Serbia that have been operating in the municipalities in North Kosovo all these years
after the Kumanovo Agreement.90 The operation of these institutions is particularly important in
areas of vital importance for the survival of the population, primarily in the fields of education,
health and social protection and the organisation of local self-government, but also other important
spheres for the functioning of the society.
As presented in the results of this research, institutions of the Government of the Republic of
Serbia provide a large number of services to citizens in North Kosovo, whose beneficiaries include
not only the local population of the four northern municipalities, but also Serbs and non-Albanians
from other parts of Kosovo.91 In the field of education, there are 48 active institutions with about
18,000 students. Nine health care institutions and pharmacies provide services to about 50,000
citizens of North Kosovo,92 as well as Serbian and non-Albanian citizens from other parts of
Kosovo. All Social Welfare Centres in Kosovo provide services to approximately 16,000 users
annually. The Republic Pension and Disability Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia in North
Kosovo pays monthly pensions to 8,328 beneficiaries, while the services of the branch office of the
National Employment Service are used by 8,340 citizens. Other institutions of the Republic of
Serbia also play an important role, each in their field.
The institutions of the Republic of Serbia also play an important role in the employment of people
from North Kosovo. It is estimated that about 8,000 people work in these institutions in North
Kosovo.93 If we include their families, we come to the fact that in North Kosovo the existence of
about 35,000-40,000 people depends directly on the salaries they receive from the Government of
the Republic of Serbia, which practically accounts for about 80% of all the inhabitants of North
Kosovo.
In the negotiations in Brussels, which takes place between the Government of Serbia and the
Government of Kosovo under the auspices of the European Union, no significant attention has been
paid to finding an institutional and legal solution for further operations of these institutions in
North Kosovo (but also in other Serbian communities in Kosovo, where the situation is similar or
the same). The final solution should be found within the Community/Association of Serb
Municipalities, which should take over the competencies of the institutions of the Republic of
Serbia currently operating in Kosovo. Negotiations about the establishment of the
Community/Association have been highly politicised, and the recent solution for this problem is
not visible. However, given the importance and role that the institutions of the Republic of Serbia
90 With the signing of the Kumanovo Agreement (9 June 1999), NATO's military actions towards the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia ceased, and conditions were created for the adoption of the UN Security Council
Resolution 1244/99 establishing the United Nations Administration Mission in Kosovo-UNMIK. 91 Many Serbs and non-Albanians from other parts of Kosovo regularly come to the north to use the services
of public institutions of the Republic of Serbia. 92 There are no official data on the number of inhabitants in North Kosovo, but according to InTER’s
estimates this number should be around 50,000 93 When 4,097 employees on the payroll of EPS are added to this figure, the result is about 12,100 people
who directly depend on the institutions of the Republic of Serbia in Kosovo.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? CONCLUSION
30
have among Serbs and non-Albanians, not only in the north, but in other parts of Kosovo, it is
necessary to approach this problem with a considerable degree of seriousness and responsibility,
and to offer a comprehensive solution that would finally define the status and the future of these
institutions in Kosovo, which would contribute to sustainable survival of the Serbian (and non-
Albanian) community in Kosovo.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? REFERENCES
31
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WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? REFERENCES
32
Progress Report on the Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina for the period October 2016 -
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33
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search for a final solution for the status of the hydro system “Ibar-Lepenac” (2015), Institute for
Territorial Economic Development
Education Card of Secondary, Vocational and Mixed Schools, data from the Ministry of
Education, Science and Technological Development, available at http://bit.ly/2tob2mH,
http://bit.ly/2rMCtt5, http://bit.ly/2sLljeV
Education Card of Primary Schools, data from the Ministry of Education, Science and
Technological Development, available at www.bit.ly/2ryIipN
Summary of the Report on the Work of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology 2016,
available at: http://bit.ly/2sRcjms
UN Security Council Resolution 1244
Decision on Deleting the Public Enterprise for Newspaper and Publishing, Information and
Cultural Activities “Stari Kolašin” Zubin Potok from the Register of Business Entities (2017),
Business Registers Agency
Decision on the Definition of the Territory for Archives (“Official Gazette of the Republic of
Serbia” No. 7/96)
Decision on the Definition of the Territory of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural
Monuments (“Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia” No. 48/98)
Health Sector Strategy 2017-2021 (2016), Kosovo’s Ministry of Health
Synthetized Report on the Work of the Social Welfare Centre 2012 and 2014, Republic Institute
for Social Protection
Monthly Statistical Bulletin IV/2017 (2017), the Republic Health Insurance Fund of the Republic
of Serbia
Statute of the Public Utility and Housing Company “Zvečan” Zvečan (2016), Provisional
Authority of Zvecan Municipality
Economic Development Strategy of the Municipality of Zvecan 2014-2016 (2013), Municipality
of Zvecan
Development Strategy of the Municipality of Zubin Potok 2013-2017 (2013), Municipality of
Zubin Potok
Strategic Plan for Education in Kosovo 2017-2021 (2016), Ministry of Education, Science and
Technology
Three-year operational program of the Public Company “Elektroprivreda Srbije” 2017-2019
(2017), Public Company “Elektroprivreda Srbije”, available at: http://bit.ly/2uiRtNs
Decree no. 02/2013 on the Criteria for the Establishment of Local Public Companies and the
Participation of Municipalities in Boards of Directors of Regional Water Supply Companies
Decree on Execution of the Law on Excise Duties in the Territory of the Autonomous Province of
Kosovo and Metohija during the validity of UN Security Council Resolution 1244
Decree on the Enforcement of the Law on Value Added Tax Act in the Territory of the
Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija during the time of the validity of UN Security
Council Resolution 1244
Decree on Amendments to the Decree on Special Conditions for the Sale of Goods with the
Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.
Decree on the Office for Kosovo and Metohija (“Official Gazette of RS” No.75/12, 123/12 and
100/13)
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? REFERENCES
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The Decree on the Plan of the Network of Health Institutions (“Official Gazette of the Republic of
Serbia”, No. 42/2006, 119/2007, 84/2008, 71/2009, 85/2009, 24/2010, 6/2012, 37/2012, 8/2014
and 92/2015)
Decree on Administrative Districts (“Official Gazette of RS”, no. 15/2006)
Websites Business Registers Agency: http://apr.rs
Public Health institute Pristina - Kosovska Mitrovica: http://www.zjzkm.rs
Public Company “Elektroprivredna Srbije”: http://www.eps.rs
Public Company “Infrastruktura Železnice Srbije” a.d: http://infrazs.rs
Public Company “Pošta Srbije”: http://www.posta.rs
Public Company “Putevi Srbije”: http://www.putevi-srbije.rs
Office for Kosovo and Metohija: http://www.kim.gov.rs/index.php
Kosovska Mitrovica District: http://www.kosovskomitrovackiokrug.rs/o-okrugu/
Cultural Centre Dragica Zarkovic: https://kckm.org/o-nama/
Maps of Courts and Public Prosecutors in the Republic of Serbia, available at:
http://www.mpravde.gov.rs/nova_mreza_sudova.php
Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development: http://opendata.mpn.gov.rs
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Urban Planning: http://mmph-rks.org
National Bank of Serbia: https://www.nbs.rs/internet/latinica/index.html
National Employment Service of the Republic of Serbia: http://www.nsz.gov.rs/live/o-nama/nsz-
danas
Municipality of Zvecan: http://www.opstinazvecan.rs
Municipality of Zubin Potok: http://www.zubin-potok.org.rs
Municipality of Kosovska Mitrovica: http://www.kosmitrovica.rs
Municipality of Leposavic: http://www.leposavic.net
Serbian Advisory and Technical Services in Agriculture: https://www.psss.rs
Tax Administration of the Republic of Serbia: http://www.poreskauprava.gov.rs
Portal of the Government of Kosovo: https://www.rks-gov.net
Republic Health Insurance Fund: http://rfzo.rs/index.php/organizacija-info/orgjedinice/filijale-
ispostave
University of Pristina: http://www.pr.ac.rs
Treasury Department: https://www.trezor.gov.rs
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE AWAITS US? REFERENCES
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