Privatization and Post-Privatization in Kosova
October 9, 2008
Forum 2015 organized a round-table discussion on “Privatization and Post-Privatization”, presenting its research report on this issue, aiming at improving information at the disposal of policy makers and other stakeholders, and contributing to the improvement of transparency, accountability and especially public policies related to successful completion of this important process. Read the report in English and the Albanian version "Privatizimi dhe Post-Privatizimi në Kosovë".

"Kosova and the Arab World" conference
August 25, 2008
Forum 2015 organized the international conference “Kosova and the Arab World”, which took place Monday, on 25 August 2008, commencing at 10:00 in Grand Hotel Prishtina (Conference Hall, 1st floor). This conference was meant to be an impulsion towards establishing and strengthening the communication channels between the civil societies of Kosova and Arab countries. The first step in this regard was the conference with the same name, organized in Amman, Jordan, on July 14th, this year. The panel presentations and discussions were performed within two conference panels: 1. Kosova Statehood (democratic and civic structures, multiculturalism, Islam and laicism), and 2. Arab–Kosova relations, discourse and prospects.

Panelists and discussants of this conference were prominent intellectuals of Arab world, coming from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, etc. The list of panelists from Kosova included prominent personalities of public and civil life, namely Veton Surroi, Muhamet Mustafa, Muhamedin Kullashi, Ferid Agani, Nehat Islami, Bekim Sejdiu and others. President Fatmir Sejdiu and Minister of Foreign Affairs Skender Hyseni have offered their views and stands on Kosova-Arab World cooperation. The conference was attended also by Government ministers, accredited Ambassadors in Prishtina, leaders of local and international NGOs, media editors, university professors and well-known intellectuals of country.

Forum 2015 will soon announce the publication "Kosova and the Arab World", consisting of papers and reflections during conference proceedings. THe publication will be available in English and Albanian languages.

Kosova’s international image and Amman conference
July, 2008
In response to the urgent need of an effective, pro-active public relations campaign for Kosova’s international image, Forum 2015 has initiated the process of improving Kosova’s image abroad. In this respect, in partnership with IKS – Kosovar Stability Initiative, Forum 2015 is preparing the analysis on bigger prejudices promoted by international press about Kosova and its post-independence reality. In parallel, a civic diplomacy campaign foresees utilization of Forum 2015 experts and intellectuals to improve Kosova’s image in different parts of the world, mainly sceptical about independence and badly informed due to strong anti-campaigning. The first step was the visit of a group of Kosovar intellectuals to Amman (Jordan) to establish contacts and hold meetings with influential intellectuals and civil society leaders of Arab world. During this visit, Forum 2015 in cooperation with Jordan’s Al Quds Center for Political Studies, also organized a conference titled “Kosova and the Arab World”, gathering around 60 influential personalities from Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria.

"A modern tale", documentary on Kosova C
April 27, 2008
Forum 2015 has produced a documentary on Kosova C power-plant project of Kosova government. The one-hour documentary was a follow-up of "A modern tale - Kosova C 2100" research paper published April last year, including the newest developments and debates that took place in meantime. The documentary was broadcasted on Kosova Television, attracting wide public attention and interest. It was the latest effort of Forum 2015 in the series of attempts to raise awareness and keep officials responsible for their actions regarding building a new lignite-based power-plant in Kosova.

Absorption for EU Pre-Accession Funds
April 11, 2008
On this round table discussion, Forum 2015 discussed about the “Absorption for EU Pre-Accession Funds: Concept and Implications for Kosovo” addressing the key aspects of this issue, presenting the main forms of the EU Cohesion Policy development and EU instruments of economic and social development with special emphasis on the new Instrument for Pre Accession – IPA; presenting the concept of absorption capacity and analyzing the experiences of Slovenia and Macedonia; as well as discussing the administrative and institutional conditions which have to be built in Kosovo in order to be efficient on cohesion funds under IPA. The research paper for this event was prepared by Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) in cooperation with the authors, Mr. Mojmir Mrak and Mr. Dragan Tilev.

Read the paper in English and the Albanian version “Abrosbimi i Fondeve të Para-Anëtarësimit”.

Strategy 2008 of Forum 2015
March 23-26, 2008
From 23 to 26 March 2008 in Durrës, Forum 2015 organized a meeting with prominent Kosovo intelectuals and experts, under the umbrella of Forum 2015 Council. During this stay in Durrës, Forum 2015's Council has discussed about projects/topics that need to be addressed during 2008. At the same time, Council members participated in a conference organized by European University of Tiana (UET) on the latest developments in Kosovo.

Forum 2015 in European University of Tirana
March 25, 2008
Forum 2015 Council members were welcomed by a wide audience in European University of Tirana to discuss about the latest developments in Kosovo after the declaration of independence. Luan Shllaku, Muhamet Mustafa, Veton Surroi, Mimoza Kusari Lila and Lulzim Peci delivered speeches on behalf of Forum 2015, in the main conference panel. The audience, around 100, which was comprised mainly of university professors, students, civil society activists, journalists, analysts and other interested participants, raised questions about Kosovo independence and the consequences of the new political status for Kosovo. The functionality of Kosovo state was another highly debated issue. Albanian media gave substantial coverage to this event, presenting it as one of the main news of the day. The conference was moderated by Ermal Hasimja of EUT.

Forum 2015 part of advocacy efforts for better energy projects in the region
February 28, 2008
Forum 2015 is among 18 organizations from Western Balkans which signed the letter to express the concern about the indicative list of priority projects approved by the Ministerial Council of the South East Europe Energy Community Treaty in Belgrade on 18th December 2007, and to ask the Ministerial Council to reconsider some of its decisions.

The Letter was sent to Stability Pact, South East European Energy Ministers, European Commission representatives, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank and World Bank. To read the letter click here. Regarding this development, Forum 2015 today has issued a Press Release for Kosovar media.

Diaspora and Migration Policies
December 18, 2007
Forum 2015 has organized a round table discussion on "Diaspora and Migration Policies", which took place on Tuesday, 18 December 2007, at Grand Hotel Prishtina (Conference Room 1st Floor). This session of "Forum 2015" was dedicated to "Diaspora and Migration Policies", during which panelists and participants addressed key aspects of the issue, namely socio-economic and demographic profile of Diaspora, its contribution to the socio-economic developments, institutional organization and necessary policies to enhance positive impact of Diaspora contribution. The presentation of Forum 2015's research report on "Diaspora and Migration Policies" prepared by RIINVEST Institute was followed by an open discussion and Q&A.

To discuss diaspora and migration policies, present at this event of Forum 2015 were the representatives of Parliament, Government, UNMIK, civil society, international organizations, media and other guests. Read the report in English and the Albanian version "Diaspora dhe Politikat e Migracionit".

Documentary on the work of Kosovo Parliament 2004 – 2007
November, 2007
Forum 2015 has produced a 52-minute documentary on the work of Kosovo Parliament for the 2004 – 2007 legislative mandate. The analysis has focused on three basic pillars of the parliamentary function: lawmaking, executive oversight and representation, including important momentums that have characterized the work of the Parliament during three years: removal of the President of Assembly, status issue, Negotiation Team, boycott of Kosovo Serbs, etc. An extensive research was conducted to provide credible information to the public. The research sources included: reports of the NGOs that monitored the work of Parliament and organizations (OSCE, European Commission, NDI) that supported parliamentary work; report of Auditor General of Kosovo; interviews with the members of these organizations, analysts and experts; TV archives; daily newspapers and internet.

The documentary has reached a wide audience, as it was broadcasted in two national and two local TV stations. Through this documentary, Forum 2015 aimed to offer a critical overview and picture of the Parliament work to Kosovo citizens, before they make their choice in November 17th elections. This was done in a politically correct manner, eliminating any sentence, declaration, image or whatsoever that would have been negatively affective to any of the running parties or candidates. The documentary analyses in a neutral but critical way the work of this institution and its constitutive bodies, including the performance of parliamentary groups represented in this mandate.

Civil Platform for 2007 Elections
October, 2007
“Civil Platform for 2007 Elections” activity aimed to provide a platform that besides educating the voters on principles of voting for individual candidates, would serve the citizen groups, watchdog and monitoring organizations, advocacy groups, and think tanks in the post election phase to measure the results of the new governance structures against the promises of the running individuals and the citizens’ expectations. The main intention of this initiative, implemented by a coalition of Kosovar think-tanks, was to offer relevant and content information to citizens, in order to be better and easily oriented once they make their choice in November 2007 elections.

The Civil Platform initiative was implemented by two publications. The first one (long version) is a collection of analysis on several aspects of governance, namely, economy (privatization, migration, unemployment and poverty), energy, environment, local government reform, EU integration, education, rule of law and judiciary and security – written by civil society experts, each of them [a] reflecting the current situation, [b] assessing the needs and [c] identifying development goals. The document urged political parties to offer detailed method of their realization through realistic and achievable programs and plans for each of these goals and recommendations given by “Civil Platform…” document.

You can read the long and the short version of "Civil Platform for 2007 Elections" in Albanian.

European Identity of Kosovo
June 26 & 27, 2007
Forum 2015 has organized a two-day symposium on "European Identity of Kosovo". The panelists of this event were the prominent Kosovar and international experts and scholars of the topic. During two days, Forum 2015 has provided an arena, where the most striking identity and statehood issues were discussed and elaborated. The symposium aimed to develop a debate concerning different aspects of Kosovar identity, under the new concept of state-building process. The debate aimed to analyze different aspects of the concepts on nation, people, state and citizenship.

The symposium was handled accross five panels, which were moderated by Alban Dudushi, Migjen Kelmendi, Ermal Hasimja, Dukagjin Gorani and Linda Gusia. The sixth panel was held at Stacion Center for Contemporary Art and implemented by this Center. Panelists included: Muhamedin Kullashi, Paul Garde, Alain Brossat, Lino Veljak, Arbën Xhaferi, Obrad Savic, Migjen Kelmendi, Aasmund Andersen, Ger Duijzings, Fatos Lubonja, Ardian Klosi, Besnik Pula, Enis Sulstarova, Ermal Hasimja, Rita Augestad Knudsen, Valon Murati, Gregor Niessen, Nita Luci, Henri Çili, Adri Nurellari, Enver Hoxhaj, Ibrahim Gashi, Teuta Sahatqija, Jakup Azemi and Merxhan Avdyli. Forum 2015 was assisted by NGO "European Citizens" in organizing the symposium.

Read the collection of contributions "Identiteti Evropian i Kosovës" in Albanian, and the original languages of the papers and the English version "European Identity of Kosova" .

Kosovo’s post-status Foreign policy
May 9, 2007
This roundtable was convened at a time when the status process was expected to be at a close. Forum 2015 believes that the forthcoming status resolution requires a shift of political focus onto Kosovo’s post-status challenges. Kosovo’s post-status foreign policy is one of the most central of these challenges, and one it is crucial to be prepared for.

This event was organized in two panels, each focusing on Kosovo’s post-status foreign policy frameworks, opportunities and challenges. The first panel included Former Albanian Foreign Minister Besnik Mustafaj; Professor Richard Caplan, Oxford University; Georges-Marie Chenu of the French Committee for Kosovo; Veton Surroi from ORA, and Alexander Bayerl from the Austrian Liaison Office in Prishtina. The second panel included Balkan expert Tim Judah; former Europe program director at the International Crisis Group, now with Independent Diplomat, Nicholas Whyte, and former Macedonian Ambassador to Rome, Mirie Rushani.

The event was opened by Lulzim Peci from KIPRED, presenting the paper “Kosovo’s Foreign Policy - Strategic factors, Objectives and Challenges”. Halfway through the event, Forum 2015 consultant Rita Augestad Knudsen presented a short paper on Kosovo’s post-status foreign policy. The debate offered local and international input on the orientation, principles, and “values” of Kosovo’s post-status foreign policy. The roundtable was broadcasted live on TV and covered in other Kosovo-wide media. Read the policy paper in English and the Albanian version "Politika e Jashtme e Kosovës pas përcaktimit të statusit final".

Modern Tale – Kosova C 2100
April 18, 2007
This event was held while the Kosovo government was planning to build a new 2100 megawatt, coal-based power plant, Kosova C. Forum 2015 believes that energy development is essential for the economic and social revitalization of Kosovo. The Kosova C project has multi dimensional impact on Kosovo’s development, and requires transparency and debate. In line with Forum 2015’s objective to provide a debate arena for pressing contemporary topics, we engaged a group of local experts to write a report on the Kosova C project. This report, focusing on the economic, social, environmental and political aspects of the project, was presented at the event.

The presentation was followed by an open discussion between participants from political parties, civil society, authorities, as well as representatives from businesses and the international community. The event was broadcasted live on TV, and inspired an energetic and lasting debate, not only in Kosovo’s media, but also in regional and European media. Read the policy paper in English and the Albanian version "Një Përrallë Moderne - Kosova C 2100".