KRIJIMI I KAPACITETEVE TË SIGURISË KIBERNETIKE NË REPUBLIKËN E KOSOVËS GJATË VITEVE 2016-2025. RAST STUDIMI: MINISTRIA E PUNËVE TË BRENDSHME

Abstract

This study examines the process of building and developing cybersecurity capacities in the Republic of Kosovo during the period 2016–2025, with a particular focus on the institutional and functional role of the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a case study. In the context of increasing digitalization of public services and the growing exposure to cyber threats, the study analyses the evolution of public policies, legal framework, institutional structures, and technological capacities in the field of cybersecurity. The research methodology is based on a combined qualitative and quantitative approach, including the analysis of strategic and legal documents, as well as empirical analysis of data collected through a structured questionnaire conducted with officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The analysis of the results indicates that the Republic of Kosovo has developed an important normative and strategic foundation in the field of cybersecurity; however, implementation capacities remain limited, and cybersecurity continues to be addressed primarily at the technical level, without being fully integrated into the strategic dimension of national security. The findings identify key challenges related to the lack of specialized human resources, budget constraints, outdated technologies, and insufficient inter-institutional and cross-sectoral cooperation. In this regard, the study provides evidence-based recommendations for strengthening professional capacities, modernizing technological infrastructure, aligning with European standards and directives, and fully operationalizing national mechanisms for cybersecurity coordination. This study contributes to the development of domestic academic literature in the field of cybersecurity and provides an analytical basis for improving public policies and institutional practices in the Republic of Kosovo.