Disinformation in the Western Balkan countries and the necessity for a firm response

November 2021

In our latest paper, PIPS analyzed Kosovo's approach and its role in the global fight against misinformation. Similar to other parts of the globe, in recent years the Western Balkans has seen an increase in disinformation and hybrid wars.

It is not uncommon for the Western Balkans region to be described as a very historically influenced space, where the interests of some actors clash and that there has been a shift in power globally among these actors pursuing their own interests and policies in the region. Added to these circumstances are technological advances that have provided innovative alternatives for the purpose of disseminating false information and conducting hybrid wars by various actors.

In the Western Balkans, the main purposes of fake news include, among other things, undermining the legitimacy and sovereignty of Kosovo's statehood, changing the narratives of war and war crimes, and undermining the West's credibility regarding state-building in Kosovo. News about Kosovo, in addition to being a dominant topic in the Serbian media, is often the subject of inaccurate reporting. Narratives spread by biased media also focus on weakening support for Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Such developments are an obstacle to regional integration and cooperation, which is why in this policy analysis PIPS has listed opportunities and recommendations for the government of Kosovo and the EU to address this phenomenon.

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Programs	Foreign Politics European Integration
Publication Year	2020

Documents to download

Dezinformimi ne vendet e Ballkanit Perendimor dhe domosdoshmeria per nje reagim te vendosur(.pdf, 530.56 KB) - 154 download(s)
Disinformation in the Western Balkan countries and the necessity for a firm response(.pdf, 522.25 KB) - 93 download(s)

Thirrje për 2 (dy) ekspertë në projektin 'Të drejtat për komunitetet rurale'

Komunitetet e largëta rurale dhe malore në Kosovë përballen me sfida të mëdha në qasjen në informata për të drejtat e tyre ligjore dhe në kërkimin e drejtësisë. Ka disa faktorë që kontribuojnë në këtë situatë, si infrastruktura e dobët, niveli i ulët i arsimit dhe mungesa e burimeve ligjore. Kushtetuta e Republikës së Kosovës garanton një gamë të gjerë të dispozitave për të drejtat e njeriut, por këto ligje shpesh shkelen dhe zbatimi i tyre është joadekuat.

Andaj PIPS, si implementues i këtij projekti të mbështetur nga Community Development Fund (CDF) dhe Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS), bënë thirrje për 2 (dy) ekspertë. Ekspertët pritet që të:

*Zhvillojnë sesione informative, prezantime dhe konsultime mbi tema të ndryshme të të drejtave të njeriut si diskriminimi, dhuna dhe qasja në drejtësi.

*Ofrojnë këshilla dhe mbështetje për ata që kanë përjetuar një dhunë të tillë.

LETTER TO EUROPEAN LEADERS GATHERING IN REYKJAVIK ON 16 AND 17 MAY FOR THE 4th COUNCIL OF EUROPE SUMMIT

As the 4th Council of Europe Summit is about to take place in Reykjavik on the 16th and 17th of May, PIPS, along with the Association of Schools of Political Studies of the Council of Europe, have addressed an open letter to the head of states of the Council of Europe members to express our concern over increasing harassment of NGOs, journalists, lawyers, academics, human rights defenders, whistleblowers, and other dissenting voices, aimed at curbing political pluralism and silencing dissent.

-The Association of Schools of Political Studies was set up in 2008 to enhance the role of political studies in the management of the Council of Europe's program and strengthen links between the schools.

International Politics and Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue: Survey on Citizens' Perception

This publication is the 3rd edition, part of the Foreign Policy Analysis Program, which was established by the Pristina Institute for Political Studies in 2014. The program aims to analyze and support the Euro-Atlantic integration of Kosovo, initiating public debate and producing research on regional, European, and global developments and their effects on Kosovo's international position.

Kosovo’s application for membership at the Council of Europe (CoE): Arduous path ahead

Since the declaration of independence in 2008, Kosovo has managed to become a member of several multilateral organizations, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, as well as the Development Bank of the Council of Europe in 2013 and the Venice Commission in 2014. By submitting the request for membership to the Council of Europe on May 12, 2022, Kosovo started an important political process, thus opening a new chapter. There seems to be a long and difficult process involved in joining the Council of Europe. This brief policy note, therefore, provides an overview of Kosovo's application to the Council of Europe and briefly elaborates on Kosovo's strategy and multilateral relations with the Council of Europe.