Statement of the Diocese of Raška and Prizren regarding the implementation of “regulations on foreigners” and their possible consequences for the Serbian community

The Diocese of Raška and Prizren of the Serbian Orthodox Church, as a Church that has for centuries lived with its faithful people in Kosovo and Metohija and that directly shares in the daily concerns and needs of our believers, is closely following announcements and public statements related to the intensified implementation of regulations governing the entry, residence, and employment of “foreign nationals” in Kosovo and Metohija. We therefore consider it our pastoral duty to point to the real and concrete risks that such practice may produce for the Serbian community, particularly in the area of the right to education, work, and an unhindered everyday life.

The Diocese respects the right of the competent institutions to regulate matters relating to the residence and movement of persons, as well as the need to act in accordance with applicable rules. However, such sensitive issues must be addressed through dialogue with the Serbian community, given their particular sensitivity. It should also be borne in mind that, in the context of long-standing unresolved status and administrative issues, as well as the specific circumstances of life of the Serbian community, there is a justified concern that a rigid and hasty application of the rules, without a clear transitional regime and without workable procedures for larger groups of people, could lead to far-reaching consequences that contribute neither to legal certainty nor to the public interest, but instead increase uncertainty and tensions.

Particular concern is caused by the possibility that persons who have for years lived and worked in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as students and employees in educational and health institutions of importance for the Serbian community, especially the University in Kosovska Mitrovica, may be treated as “foreign nationals” under migration regulations, without a realistic and accessible mechanism to regularise their status within a reasonable time. If the status of students and employees is conditioned by criteria that, in practice, are not applicable to institutions of vital importance for the Serbian community, there is a risk of undermining the right to education and the continuity of schooling, as well as the right to work and to carry out activities of public importance. Any solution that would, in effect, call into question the normal functioning of higher education, or jeopardise students and their academic year, would have far-reaching consequences for the entire community and for creating conditions for young people to remain. It is exceptionally important that the functioning of the health system in Serbian areas is not endangered in any way.

We also consider particularly sensitive the announcements regarding strict deadlines for reporting the address of residence and possible sanctions, including a ban on entry. If such measures are applied without sufficient time for adjustment, without adequate information in the Serbian language, and without functional channels for mass registration, conditions may be created in which a large number of people become “irregular” solely due to technical omissions, which would be disproportionate to the purpose of the law and contrary to the fundamental principle of legal certainty. It is particularly important that legal remedies be effective in practice, so as to avoid situations in which consequences occur before genuine legal protection can be ensured.

The Diocese therefore makes a responsible and well-intentioned appeal to the competent institutions and international representatives to ensure that the implementation of these regulations is carried out in a manner consistent with the standards of the rule of law, non-discrimination, and proportionality, and that it takes into account the real conditions of life of the Serbian community. We consider it necessary that, before the full application of measures that may produce serious consequences, clear administrative guidance be adopted, together with transitional and protective mechanisms, to ensure that students, teachers, health workers, and other persons who are part of the daily life of the Serbian community are not placed in a legal vacuum. It is particularly important to secure a functional solution for students and employees in education and healthcare, so that their status may be regulated on the basis of verifiable facts and documentation, without interruption of studies and work.

The Diocese of Raška and Prizren remains deeply committed to peace, mutual respect, and the preservation of the dignity of all people. Our Church does not engage in politics, but it cannot remain a silent observer when the basic everyday security of our people, their right to education, medical care, work, and to remain in their homes, is called into question. We therefore call on all competent authorities to act responsibly and, through dialogue and practical solutions, to avoid any implementation that would have a negative and discriminatory effect on the Serbian community.

Within the framework of its pastoral mission, the Diocese will continue to monitor the situation, support its faithful, and, in cooperation with relevant local and international representatives, point to the need to ensure legal certainty and the conditions for a normal life for all in Kosovo and Metohija.