Status of North Kosovo from a Legal and Economic Perspective

Abstract

In this Interdisciplinary work we will deal with the Legal and Economic status of the North Kosovo region which has a very unique status and since recently its gaining more attention. It is even more interesting if we know that this small region has a very important role in European Union (hereinafter EU) politics as well. We will focus on the long debated questions for which not just the two countries Serbia and Kosovo, can’t reach an agreement, but the EU and other International actors also have unclear and different opinions. For this region it is very hard to find relevant and applicable rules, since rules which could be applied have either no real power or could not be enforced. Applicable laws are the ones of Serbia and Kosovo but enforcement power is in the hands of European Union made body, EULEX (European Union Rule of Law Mission) (Eulex-Kosovo), so how it is possible that such a strong political body like the EU can’t enforce them? From an Economic and Finance perspective we will deal with the questions which are of tremendous importance not just for the people from the region but as well for Serbia, Kosovo, EU and the International community. It has to be outlined that even after reaching some Agreements between the Serbian and Kosovo governments, like the one from 19th April 2013 (1) (2) many important questions still lay unanswered and untouched. The most important questions are the ones related to enforcement, rule of law, social welfare, taxes and security. The pressure is now with the Agreement transferred from EULEX (Mission) to the Governments of Serbia and Kosovo. As professionals we have to approach these issues with no biases and as reasonably as possible also we have to focus on the on field situation and facts which are of crucial importance for anything what is happening and can happen.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n10p175