KPDS

📣 SAVE THE DATE The 4th edition of Kosovo Peace and Democracy Summit (KPDS) will take place on 24–26 November 2025 in Pristina, Kosovo. 🗓 24–26 November 2025 📍 Pristina, Kosovo

We wrap up the program of the 4th Kosovo Peace & Democracy Summit: New World Disorder: Disinformation, Distrust and Dismantling of Democratic Norms, with closing remarks by @JovanaMekodelac, @MentorV, and @BardhiBakija.🌐

Anamarija Velinovska, Researcher, Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis”: "The new EU budget will show whether they are serious about the question of enlargement."

#KPDS2025: Panel 4 - On Track or Left Behind: Who from the Western Balkans Is Going to Catch the 2030 EU Integration Train.

Valeska Esch, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council's Europe Center: "I am worried that if EU enlargement ambitions are not encompassed by an honest, holistic process, it might backfire eventually."

Nevenka Vuksanović, Director, Center for Democracy and Human Rights: "Functioning institutions are the priority for potential EU enlargement."

Arjan Dyrmishi, Executive Director and Founder, Centre for the Study of Democracy and Governance: "The 2030 EU integration ambitions are not a deadline for Albania and Montenegro but rather a political signal."

Anamarija Velinovska, Researcher, Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” • Nevenka Vuksanović, Director, Center for Democracy and Human Rights

@BojanElek @AgonMaliqi @BojanaZori2 Bojan Elek, journalist and policy analyst: “The student movement is the best chance for democratization in Serbia.”

Panelists: @BojanElek, Journalist and Policy Analyst @AgonMaliqi, Nonresident Senior Fellow With the Atlantic Council's Europe Center Dr @BojanaZori2, Policy Analyst for the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood at the EU Institute for Security Studies

Up next at #KPDS2025: Panel 1 - Ethno-Politics Reloaded: Radicalization, Security, and Regional Futures We look at rising nationalism, key security dilemmas, and what cooperation in the Western Balkans can look like in a more divided environment.

Don't miss the Youth Voices in Dialogue - Networking Session with young researchers, supported by the National Endowment for Democracy. #KPDS2025

Opening tdy the 2025 @KPDSummit, organised by @NSIMitrovica, @sbunker & @KCSSQKSS, I highlighted the decisive role of CSOs in advancing good governance, rule of law & countering disinformation & restoring trust - all central to #Kosovo’s🇪🇺perspective. Our partnership continues.

Aleksandar Rapajić, program director at the Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture: “The strength of youth programs is that they do not need much - they need a space to talk and they click, as they say. They do not talk much about differences but rather about similarities.”

Panel 3 - CSO participation in the UN peacebuilding architecture - The WB Sub-Regional Dialogue on peacebuilding We look at how WB CSOs engage the UN peacebuilding system to boost impact on the ground, organized in partnership with CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation.

Ramadan Ilazi, head of research at the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies: “From the New York meetings: – Prevention starts locally, it does not start at all. – The Peacebuilding Fund is still too bureaucratic. – Civil society must be a pillar in UN processes, not a guest.”

Tatjana Milovanović, program director of the Post-Conflict Research Center: “The relationship between Bosnia and the UN apparatus has been significantly coined through the recognition of the Srebrenica genocide by New York where civil society played a defining role.”

Stephen O’Malley, United Nations Development Coordinator in Kosovo: "Civil society needs to be brought closer to decision-making, with greater investment in local action and improved coordination within the UN system, especially at the community level."

• Stephen O’Malley, United Nations Development Coordinator in Kosovo • Aleksandar Rapajić, Program Director, Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture

Our civil society partners doing hands-on work, engaging the political spectrum of Kosovo towards cohesion on EU-facilitated Dialogue. Proud to have our Senior Advisor @SabovicSenad hosting the latest Dinner Talks at @KPDSummit at a crucial time for the EU in the Western Balkans.

@BojanElek @AgonMaliqi @BojanaZori2 Dr. Bojana Zorić: “The broader geopolitical context is largely beyond the EU’s control, such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, meaning enlargement can still be affected.”

@BojanElek @AgonMaliqi @BojanaZori2 Agon Maliqi, nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center: “NATO’s role, if Russia expands its aggression to other European countries, together with enlargement hype and increased defense spending, is becoming a critical security issue.”