EU, on its 2023 Kosovo Report, among many topics and fields, has touched on the topic of animals as well. Below are the main points of the report:

1. While progress is noted in stray dog control with approved by-law and a National Strategy, the Food and Veterinary Agency is yet to establish a comprehensive disease monitoring system.
2. Challenges persist in farm animal control, transport, and market/slaughterhouse oversight. Long-term planning for disease eradication programs needs improvement, which is hindered by insufficient resources and training.
3. Limited progress in animal health is evident, with vaccination campaigns against rabies ongoing but requiring more frequent execution (twice a year). Identification and registration efforts for animals, have seen some improvement, particularly because of the campaign of microchipping of dogs with owners.
4. The lack of inspectors, funding, and training poses significant obstacles to effective disease control and eradication. Kosovo must prioritize commitment from relevant institutions to allocate necessary resources for proper implementation of animal welfare legislation.

In conclusion, while the report touches on a few important points, it is worth noting that when it comes to dog population control, progress is minimal in this regard. The municipalities in large still do not have the necessary know-how on how to design and implement effective local dog population management programs.

Another area of DPM is the lack of effective CNVR programs. Many municipalities than ever have active CNVR programs, but none of these programs have any planning at all. FVA and MAFRD haven’t engaged in an effective way to support municipalities to implement effective and humane CNVR programs.

Yes, by-laws have been approved, but not all of them. Two very crucial by-laws remain to be approved, the AI for the control of breeding and sale of companion animals, and the AI for the responsible keeping of companion animals. On the other hand, the situation with the dogs on the street remains the same. The Action Plan of the National Strategy foresees several measures, most of which have not been planned and implemented at all so far. Control of dogs with keepers (owners) is still non-existent despite microchipping campaigns and abandonments of dogs continue unpunished en mase.

Animal markets and slaughterhouses experience very bad conditions of animal keeping and transport, and this is an area that’s a long long way behind EU standards and a lot of work remains to be done.

FVA should also undertake necessary measures to apply in EU to be declared a rabies-free country, and this means frequent vaccinations and consistent data collection.

The living conditions of farm animals are horrific in many farms throughout Kosovo, and unfortunately the relevant institutions have done little to address welfare issues for farm animals.

Read the full EU Kosovo Progress report here: https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/kosovo-report-2023_en