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2 clusters · 20 sources · 7 days · First seen 18 days ago · Last updated 12 days ago

Kosovo lake demolitions face EU pushback

Overview

In late July 2026 Kosovo’s Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure intensified actions to protect key water‑resource sites. On 24 July inspectors and police demolished 16 illegal structures on the Lake Ujmani shoreline and announced a review of similar cases around Lakes Batllavë and Badovc, both major drinking‑water sources, with plans to release seized lands to public institutions. The demolition programme continued on 30 July, when public enterprise Ibar‑Lepenac, assisted by police, razed a total of 17 structures around Gazivode (Ujmani) lake, including the well‑known Motel “Jezero”. Owners Jordan and Aleksandar Jakšić, who claim the land was expropriated, have filed a lawsuit with a court hearing set for 12 August. The European Union, together with the German, British and Italian embassies and the OSCE, has repeatedly called for an immediate halt to the removals. On 3 August the EU urged Kosovo to suspend any irreversible demolition of Serbian‑owned houses until a court ruling is issued, citing concerns over legal procedures, transparency and potential discrimination against the Serbian community in northern Kosovo. In early August the EU reiterated its demand that Kosovo suspend any irreversible demolition of Serbian‑owned houses on Gazivode lake until courts rule on property claims. EU Commission spokesperson Anita Hiper said the action must be halted pending the pending judgments. Kosovo’s environment minister Fitore Pacoli confirmed that 17 structures, including the long‑standing “Jezero” hotel, had been removed by public enterprise Ibar‑Lepenac on the basis of illegal construction. Serbian representatives argue the owners hold Serbian‑issued documents and that the demolitions breach their rights. The dispute is linked to the 2021 economic‑normalisation agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, which called for studies on lake resource division but left ownership questions unresolved.

Entities

Jordan Jakšić · Jakšić family · Ibar‑Lepenac · Gazivode Lake · Faruk Mujki

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] The motel “Jezero” was demolished on 30 July 2026.
[● 3 SOURCES] Workers of public enterprise Ibar‑Lepenac, together with Kosovo police, carried out the demolition.
[● 2 SOURCES] Owners Jordan and Aleksandar Jakšić have filed a lawsuit against Ibar‑Lepenac; a court hearing is set for 12 August 2026.
[● 2 SOURCES] Director of Ibar‑Lepenac, Faruk Mujki, faces a criminal complaint filed by the Jakšić family.
[● 2 SOURCES] Kosovo authorities claim the demolished structures were illegally built on public land owned by Ibar‑Lepenac.
[○ 1 SOURCE] A total of 17 structures have been demolished on the Gazivode lake area.
[○ 1 SOURCE] The European Union and the German and British embassies have called for an immediate halt to the demolitions, citing rule‑of‑law concerns.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Acting Minister of Environment Fitore Pacoli said the demolition programme will continue without compromise and expand to other parts of Kosovo.

Timeline

12 days ago

[POLITICS] 13 sources
Gazivode lake demolition continues, 17 structures razed
Ibar‑Lepenac and Kosovo police have now razed 17 structures at Gazivode lake, including the “Jezero” motel, amid legal disputes, EU calls for a halt, and accusations of illegal expropriation.
18 days ago

[POLITICS] 7 sources
Kosovo Ministry moves against illegal water‑resource constructions near Batllavë and Badovc
Kosovo's environment ministry is cracking down on illegal constructions on water‑resource lands, demolishing 16 villas near Lake Ujmani and targeting further usurped sites around Lakes Batllavë and Badovc.

Sources

24ur.com · 6yka.com · arbresh.info · dan.co.me · danas.rs · dubrovackidnevnik.net.hr · dukagjini.com · ekonomiaonline.com · epokaere.com · europeanwesternbalkans.com · illyriapress.com · kurir.rs · mondo.rs · nova.rs · novilist.hr · orainfo.net · pinnews.com.tw · politika.rs · srbijadanas.com · vreme.com

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history