NATO and the European Union are strengthening their efforts to ensure stability in Kosovo ahead of the parliamentary elections on February 9.
NATO has deployed an additional 200 Italian soldiers to its peacekeeping mission, KFOR. This brings the total number of troops in Kosovo to around 4,000, a significant decrease from the 50,000 stationed in the country in 1999. The Italian brigade Sassari will work alongside other KFOR forces to monitor the security situation during the election period.
A KFOR spokesperson said, “The mission is designed to maintain peace and respond to any security challenges.”
EU to monitor the elections
The European Union is also increasing its involvement. It has sent 100 election observers to Kosovo. Nathalie Loiseau, a French Member of the European Parliament, will lead the mission. She said, “This reflects the EU’s ongoing support for Kosovo’s democratic development.”
Tensions are high in the lead-up to the election. Kosovo’s government recently closed Serbian-run institutions in the north, which it described as illegal. This has sparked protests from Kosovo’s Serbian community.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti faces pressure from political rivals, with many focusing on domestic issues. There has been little emphasis on improving relations with Serbia, making this election a key moment for Kurti’s leadership.
