There has been little or no progress in Kosovo since the NATO invasion eight years ago - according to a new study.
The University of Manchester researchers detailed endemic - and often rising - levels of poverty, corruption and crime despite massive aid programmes led by the EU.
Based on interviews with UN, EU and Kosovar officials, the findings cast doubt over the European Union’s ability to take over from the United Nations next year.
The EU has channelled EUROS 1.1 billion of aid into the province - the largest of any donor and already plays a central role in the current UN administration.
It is also due to develop an enhanced security role in the region in light of US troop reductions from the Balkans to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lead researcher Dr. Dimitris Papadimitriou, who is Director of the University’s European Politics Research Unit says there will have to be substantial numbers of foreign troops in the area for the foreseeable future.
According to the report, 37 per cent of Kosovars live in poverty and unemployment is endemic at over 40 per cent and rising.
State industries encouraged to privatise have become embroiled in accusations of mismanagement and corruption - and no progress has been made to reduce the sectarian divide between Serbs and Kosovars.
Significant problems also remain in the area of law enforcement and the operation of the local system of justice.
Dr. Papadimitriou said: “Kosovo’s precarious stability has come at the expense of its multi-ethnic character and at a very high financial cost for the international community.
“The European Union’s primary focus to support economic recovery and the modernization of local economic structures over the past seven years has been disappointing.
“Following an early post-war boom in 1999-2001, economic activity since has slowed and the local population’s economic hardship has worsened.
“In 2005, GDP per capita was EUR 100 - the lowest in the Western Balkans.
“Further, Kosovo’s macroeconomic stability has been undermined by the inability of the administration to collect taxes and its excessive reliance on customs revenues.
“In fact, had it not been for foreign aid and receipts from the Kosovar diaspora, Kosovo’s economy would have been all but ‘clinically dead’.”
Dr Papadimitriou also criticised the style of the UN administration and the frequent changes of international administrators, saying they have undermined the ability of the international community to send a consistent message to Kosovo’s political elites.
Despite the development of state like structures in the area, most aspects of governance in Kosovo remain under the control of the UN.
He added: “In 1999, NATO troops entered Kosovo on a promise to preserve its multi-ethnic character.
“If multi-ethnic co-existence was ever the name of the game in the area, it is certainly not the case today.
“The approximately 150 000 Serbs - seven per cent of the population - in Kosovo live in total separation from the Albanian majority.
“As a result of that - along with the other problems, the prospect of a reduction of NATO troops or an enhanced EU security role is bound to generate significant opposition from local political leaders.
“They regard the EU as too fragmented and weak to be trusted with such responsibility.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The paper ‘to build a state’ was written and researched by Dimitris Papadimitriou, Petar Petrov and Labinot Greiçevci and is available.
Dr Papadimitriou is available for comment
For media enquiries contact:
Mike Addelman
Media Relations Officer
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester
0161 275 0790
07717 881 567
michael.addelman@manchester.ac.uk
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What do you mean Kosovo has not progressed . They have progressed rapidly . The Herion trade is up
The Albanians have more weapons , More muslim women are wearing their scarfs , Many wahhabi mosques have been built . Imams with advanced degrees are teaching in the schools . Very few people have to work at labor jobs . All jews are gone ,also most christians and Roma . We are collecting the highest foreign aid per capta of any country in the world . A statue of
Bill Clinton is about built . What could possibly be more progresive than this .
Sounds like to me Kosovo could be accepted in the E.U. and granted independence right away unconditionaly like Croatia was .
Comment by eric — December 19, 2007 #