The Government of Serbia has adopted a draft law declaring Kosovo as an area of special social protection

“By declaring Kosovo and Metohija an area of special social protection, financial support is provided to specific population categories defined by law, aiming to ensure their survival in the territory and encourage the preservation of cultural and historical heritage, with a focus on demographic, economic, and cultural development,” stated the Serbian government.

 

The purpose of these legal measures, according to the Government of Serbia, is to support the unemployed and those over 65 who have not qualified for a pension, providing financial support for a productive life and alleviating the consequences of social exclusion.

 

The Government also adopted a draft law on the organization and jurisdiction of judicial bodies for prosecuting criminal offenses committed in Kosovo.

 

"The proposed law envisions adequate mechanisms for connecting judicial authorities and concentrating expertise that would, depending on the specific case, provide strong support to the public prosecutor's office—not only in conducting investigations and gathering evidence for the indictment but also throughout the trial process until the final conclusion,” the statement explained.

 

The law also allows for the specialization of courts handling criminal cases from Kosovo, concentrating their jurisdiction to ensure more efficient and significant trials in these proceedings.

 

The new legal provisions designate the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Higher Court in Belgrade as responsible for handling cases involving criminal acts at the first instance, while the Appellate Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Appellate Court in Belgrade will handle second-instance cases. Additionally, a Special Department within the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade is to be established for prosecuting crimes committed in Kosovo and Metohija.