Organized Crime Phenomenon Threatening Public Safety and Rule of Law in Kosovo

Abstract

Nowadays organized crime is considered as a real threat to the security of any country, but in particular, to the security of countries with fragile democracies that do not have any strength, tradition or experience to effectively deal with it. In this regard, for Balkans, this phenomenon is considered as the main threat to the security of each country and the region in general and in particular for our country Kosovo. Despite the progress achieved, the creation of institutions since 1999 had three transitions; UNMIK period 1999-2008, the declaration of independence on February 17, 2008 and the arrival of new EULEX mission in 2009 that was made to build a new future through integration process in the European Union, in the eyes of the international community our region is still considered quite fragile and challenging. The events of 1990-1999 in former Yugoslavia created great difficulties not only for the new states but also in the actual integration developments that these countries aim not to lose the chance to refute another infamous epithet as "organized crime haven". In this epithet may have doses of exaggeration, but the truth for these last 20 years is that, while all kinds of industries in the region have failed, there is a thriving new "industry", working day and night in full capacity: industry of organized crime.