Kosovo: euro as sole legal tender causes tension, problems

Even though Kosovo is not a member of the European Union, it adopted the euro as its currency in 2002. Nevertheless, it continued to tolerate use of the Serbian dinar even after it declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The reason for this was that many of the approximately 120,000 Serbs who live in Kosovo receive their salaries and pensions from Serbia in dinars. 

In February 2024, Kosovo officially introduced the euro as sole legal tender in the country, making the euro the only currency that can legally be used for cash and digital payments.

Now, there is no way for Serbs in Kosovo to withdraw their salaries, pensions or social security payments from banks in Kosovo. Many rely on friends and relatives, who use their cards to withdraw cash at ATMs in Serbia or at border crossings, where they can get dinars.