Disappointed with Kosovo, hope in Germany, Switzerland...

Sultan Berisha's face brightens when he recounts the best days of his life. He was only fourteen when the eight - year - old family stayed in Germany. It was 2014 when Berisha illegally headed west for better life in the most powerful European economy. But everything got down on an early morning, when special police forces raided the Berishas and sent them to the airport. The repatriation was hardly accompanied to return the loan, which it had received to pay off traffickers who pulled them out of Serbia to Hungary.

Roma Berishas would again try the road to land of hope, but Germany would return a month later. The 19-year-old father of two has no permanent job. He works on plantations. If given the opportunity, he would again take the trip to Western states to ensure the welfare of his family. Like him, many other Kosovo youths hope the European Union, under the next German chairmanship, will lift visas for Kosovars. The German government has provided no guarantees, but has pledged commitment.

Germany's Best

But the departure of the workforce started several years ago with a working visa. Even those with jobs in Kosovo are leaving. They are migrating for higher wages and greater social and health security in the countries of the 27-member bloc. Germany, among the favorite countries.

And nearly half of Kosovo companies have faced the consequences of migration of their employees, becomes known in the analysis of the public Pulse conducted by the United Nations Development Programme in Kosovo (UNDP), based on interviews and surveys with 201 businesses. “Emigration is constantly perceived in rising and influential on the labour market and lack of skills in the country”, said in analysis. In addition to hoping for better work opportunities and personal economic development, family reunification has played a major role in making many citizens of different ethnicities prefer Germany, it becomes known in UNDP analysis.

Progress Cadol, a member of the Ashkali community, has worked several months in Italy, where his married daughter lives. He volunteered.

This young man with no job is looking forward to getting away, except for visa work that he plans to get out of”, says Hakif Mustafa, member of the Ashkali community in Obilic. He says disappointed young people see the West as the only hope to bring their family out of economic and social misery.

Western world is also targeting young people of the Bosniak community in the Prizren region. “Rinia is going to Montenegro, where they are working in the builder, then applying for visas at the embassy, that they need to wait less than here in Kosovo”, says Raif Mustafa, Bosnian activist from the Upper Lubinja. The man, whose yard car has Novi-Pazar license plates, rejects claims that Bosniaks are exploiting Serbia's passports to migrate for economic reasons.

Almeida Fyza, by NGO “Sofra” in Prizren, says lack of perspective and difficulties in education are major challenges for Bosnian youth. “... The majority alternative is European Union countries”, he points out. We've come to the situation that in some villages we don't have any students in the first grade because of the” migration.

No comprehensive strategy

In the UNDP's public Pulse analysis, writes that the main reasons for migration are unemployment and general discontent, related to the weak educational system, the lack of co-ordination of actors responsible for the workforce and employment in the country. Even the overall political situation and the failure to implement the Government's effective employment and economic development strategies were cited as contributing factors why many people in Kosovo, especially young people, have lost hope for a future in Kosovo, and they choose the constitutionalx1> immigration, appreciated in public Puls, based on interviews with different parties. It warns that in recent years there is an increase in the number of Kosovars who are leaving the country with the intention of not returning.

Slobodan Savic and his son, Slavisa, from Sterpce's Beatia, say local youth has little potential because of the powerful influence of politics on all gates of life. “Comuna does not represent the interests of citizens”, notes Slavisa Saviq. “Comuna, as a municipality, has not responded to any citizen. Neither for Albanians, nor for Serbs”.

Shrpca, like all Serb majority municipalities, is led by the Serbian List. In the southern town, youths interviewed say they have limited options. In restaurants along the way to Brezovica many young Serbs work as waitresses and cooks. They speak Albanian and Serbian. They refuse to talk about political influence. One of the waiters says in fluent Albanian that he has never visited Ferizaj, Pristina or Skopje. None of the cities are more than 30 miles [50 km] apart. “Who has the potential is educated in northern Mitrovica at the faculty or in Serbia. Those who return, either have to become a part of politics, or they may be out of work of ousteva”, says the reosh, referring to work in local or central administration. The “those who have the greatest career ambitions return nothing to Shtrpce. They stay in Belgrade”.

Policy disappointment “

The new Egyptian politician, Fridon Lala, former deputy minister of regional development in the government down in the pandemic peak, says Kosovo continues to be one of the sending tops of migrants to Western countries. According to him, it is a disaster for Kosovo society that is running away from youth. “E for all these young people, the West is the common denominator of all possibilities that guarantee a life worth”.

Lala estimates that Kosovo has failed to provide developmental opportunities for young people. Public Pulse data shows that 41 percent of companies have not even tried to convince workers not to leave. They have not offered an improvement in conditions or a raise. Lala says this form of mismanagement has exacerbated the socioeconomic situation and that migration remains the only solution.

For a young person, whether the working or intellectual class, the West is seen as a golden opportunity, which offers basic conditions for dignified work and career development”, he points out. “Vec providing job opportunities also provides security and educational and health quality systems, additional elements to influence raising households in such an environment”.

Berisha, a young Roma father from Plemetini, says he had left elementary school in half when he migrated with families to Germany. School banks did not go back after the repatriation. Now they're paid for their seasonal work on plantations. Cadoll, meanwhile, returned voluntarily from Italy to Ferizaj because it could not adjust. He and his son Mensur cut wood through the bread ovens in the district.

Lala after her university studies has been able to continue her life in Western countries. He decided to return home in order to contribute to the development of the country. However, he thinks that both he and other young people should feel Kosovo as their homeland. In Western countries, he never felt like Kosovo. We have many young people who still have hope and will to contribute to a more comprehensive Kosovo”, Lala points out.

Berat Rukiqi, chairman of the Kosovo Economic Ode, has said the majority of workers in Kosovo companies view employment as temporary, at once awaiting the first opportunity for migration. “Most of them have hesitations to invest in workers as they fear they will escape”, Rukiqi has said.

But there is no one who changes the mind of Srdjan Kryezia from Fushe-Kosovo to give up the dream to migrate legally or illegally to Germany. “A you see how you're spending your game with the people, and they're shaving as kings”, insinuating Kryeziu, referring to politicians. “These are also initiated; Albanians, Roma, Ashkali, Serbian, or ukdo-”.