Estonia, 6 September 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, participated in the 8th Open Government Partnership Global Summit.
In his address, at the opening session of the summit that this year is being organized by the Government of Estonia, addressing the participants, representatives of member states, civil society activists and invited guests, he said that he feels honored to be among them today, and especially at the very beginning of Kosovo’s journey as the newest member of this international organization.
For Kosovo, membership and participation in the OGP represents an opportunity to improve our transparency standards, as it encourages the government to be more open about its activities and decision-making processes and also increases public trust, said the Prime Minister.
“Being part of the organization places Kosovo on the international stage as a country committed to open government principles, to good governance practices and is ready to be held accountable for its commitments and learn from those who have improved practices of open government”, added the prime minister in his address.
He went on to say that through digital transformation we aim to increase the quality of the education system, the efficiency of our healthcare and justice systems, and increase productivity in the economy. During the last two years we have successfully digitized more than 150 services, which are accessible through the government portal, eKosova, while we are currently in the process of piloting the provision of services related to childbirth.
Also, Prime Minister Kurti spoke about the danger every country faces from cyber threats. He singled out the dangers faced by Kosovo from Russia’s allies, who try to distort the truth, the past and the present.
“In sensitive situations, when our country engages in the process facilitated by the European Union and the United States of America for the normalization of relations with Serbia, as well as the full participation of all minorities in the country’s democratic processes without foreign interference, threats Cyber-type disinformation, cyber-harassment and other forms are particularly harmful”, stressed Prime Minister Kurti.
Therefore, this is the reason why our engagement and participation in this event is more important than ever and that we look forward to learning from all of you and with all of you, for a stronger digital democracy for our citizens, said Prime Minister Kurti in conclusion of his speech.
In Tallinn, Estonia, Prime Minister Kurti was accompanied by the Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Kreshnik Ahmeti. The Republic of Kosovo joined the Open Government Partnership in August. It is now among 75 member countries. This year’s OGP Summit is being organized by the Government of Estonia. In addition to Prime Minister Kurti, the participants were also addressed by the Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, the President of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera, and the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader and the Secretary of the OGP, Sanjay Pradhan.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech at the Open Government Partnership Global Summit:
Dear Prime Minister Kallas,
Distinguished representatives of the Open Government Partnership member states,
Respected civil society activists from around the world,
Distinguished attendees,
I am honored to be among you today, especially at the very start of Kosova’s journey as a member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). OGP plays a crucial role in reinforcing the fundamental democratic principle that the fate of a country rests with its people. By providing citizens with greater tools to participate, OGP fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among citizens.
It is a particular pleasure to be in Estonia while speaking about this subject. Estonia has set the gold standard for digital democracy. Though digital advancements have made possible the great ease with which citizens file their taxes and businesses incorporate their documents, Estonia’s digital success story is not only about convenience; it is fundamentally about trust. The country’s unwavering commitment to data security and privacy has set an example for the world to follow, ensuring that individuals’ personal data is handled with care, transparency, and security. In light of current cybersecurity threats, this is an area that deserves all of our attention.
The mission of the OGP resonates with me personally. As someone whose start in politics, and a substantial part of my political life, has been as an activist, my journey from social activism to institutional leadership has reinforced the profound impact that engaged citizens can have on shaping the course of our nation. Activism taught me that the power of change lies in the hands of the people, and it is my responsibility as a leader to ensure that their voices are not only heard but actively sought after. The wisdom, creativity, and passion of our citizens are invaluable assets that, when harnessed, can lead us to innovative solutions, improved policies, and a more inclusive society.
For Kosova, a relatively young and emerging democracy, participating in OGP presents an opportunity to enhance our transparency standards. It encourages the government to be more open about its activities and decision-making processes, which, in turn, will reduce opportunities for corruption and improve public trust. Greater transparency and the fight against corruption have been cornerstones of our government. We have placed significant emphasis on combating crime within public institutions. The tangible impact of our efforts has been acknowledged by prominent international institutions. For instance, Kosova’s ranking in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index has improved 20 places in the past two years. OGP also encourages governments to seek and consider public input, which is crucial for building a citizen-centric state. Joining OGP allows us to move forward with other democracies. Being part of the organization places Kosova on the international stage as a country committed to open government principles and therefore signals to the global community that Kosova is dedicated to good governance practices and is willing to be held accountable for its commitments and to learn from those who have honed the practices of open government.
The digital age has been transformative for our citizens. During a time when Kosova finds itself on the edge of Europe, digitalization has made connectivity possible. With internet access stretching across our entire country and achieving this milestone this year, our citizens have been able to participate in global economies and learn from leading democracies. Recognizing the immense potential, our government is committed to harnessing digital transformation as a catalyst for a comprehensive overhaul of our public administration. Through this transformation we also aim to elevate the quality of our education system, enhance the efficiency of our healthcare and justice systems, and increase productivity across our entire economy. Over the past two years, we have successfully digitized more than 150 services, which are accessible through our government portal, eKosova. Currently, we are in the process of piloting the “life-events approach” for delivering services related to the birth of a child. This approach stands as the cornerstone of our ambitious public administration reform initiative, with the primary goal of delivering profoundly citizen-centric, personalized, and inclusive services.
But great opportunities also come hand in hand with great responsibilities. Every country represented in this room and its citizens are at risk of cyber threats. The countries that are most at odds with foreign authoritarian regimes know what these threats look like firsthand. In Kosova, efforts from Russian allies to distort the truth, the past, and the present are visible and intensifying. During sensitive times, when our country is committed to the process facilitated by the European Union and the United States of America to normalize relations with Serbia, as well as the full participation of all minorities in the democratic processes of the country without foreign interference, these cyberthreats like disinformation, cyberbullying, and other forms are particularly detrimental.
This is why our commitment to and participation in this event are more important than ever. We look forward to learning from all of you and with all of you, for a stronger digital democracy for our citizens.
Thank you very much!
Last modified: September 6, 2023