Knowledge & Analysis

2025 Assessment – Report for Kosovo*

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The 2025 assessment finds the legal environment for civil society in Kosovo* broadly conducive, while cooperation between the government and civil society weakened during a year of political instability. Three election cycles and a caretaker government slowed policy-making, the cooperation strategy expired without replacement, and the suspension of USAID funding hit the sector’s finances.

Key findings

The legal framework for freedom of association, assembly and expression continued to meet most international standards, and around 370 new NGOs were registered without reported difficulties.

The 2016 anti-money laundering law still classifies all CSOs as reporting entities with disproportionate obligations. An amendment removing them was annulled by the Constitutional Court on procedural grounds in January 2026, and a risk assessment finding that the sector poses no terrorist financing risk awaits formal adoption.

Public funding for CSOs reached EUR 16.5 million in 2025, up from EUR 14.3 million in 2024, and 41% of CSOs rated the process positively, compared with 22% in 2024.

Documents published for public consultation fell to 108, from 259 in 2024. Only 6.5% of CSOs experienced a consultation that gave access to the draft from the start and at least 15 days to comment.

The Government Strategy for Cooperation with Civil Society 2019–2023 expired without replacement, the draft 2026–2031 strategy was not adopted, and the Council for Government Cooperation with Civil Society remained non-functional.

Only 52% of CSOs reported a diversified donor income, down from 67% in 2024. In a rapid assessment of 40 CSOs, the cuts in US assistance led to 78 employees being laid off.