Prishtina, 2 October, 2023
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, together with the Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, have hosted the Mayors of the Municipalities of Kosovo in the next joint meeting, to discuss the issues they face, and where to Also present were the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Hekuran Murati, the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Liburn Aliu, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Hajrulla Çeku, the Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Rozeta Hajdari and the Deputy Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure, Hysen Durmishi.
In this meeting, the fifth of its kind, the Prime Minister, in his introductory speech, wished a special welcome to the Mayors of the new member Municipalities of the Association of Municipalities of Kosovo; Ilir Peci, Mayor of the Municipality of Zveçan; Izmir Zeqiri, Mayor of the Municipality of Zubin Potok and Erden Atiq, Mayor of the Northern Municipality of Mitrovica.
Thanking everyone for their presence today, the Prime Minister added that this format serves us to work together through open discussion and take care of the well-being of the citizens so that it increases and their problems are reduced.
The Prime Minister said that since the last meeting we had in May, a good news and joint success is the victory of Kosovo’s candidacy for the organization of the Prishtina 2030 Mediterranean Games, where over 250 million euros of public investment and 24 sports facilities are planned for these games, which will take place in all 10 municipalities of Kosovo, and in Durrës, Albania.
According to the prime minister, another achievement for the local level is Kosovo’s membership in the Open Government Partnership – OGP. Our republic, the Prime Minister further said, is now part of an initiative which is built on the principle of open governance, local democracy and citizen participation in decision-making.
As for the municipal budget, Prime Minister Kurti said that in 2024 this budget will reach 742 million euros. According to him, in absolute value, the 2024 budget is almost 90 million euros higher compared to 2023. Since the beginning of the mandate, for three years, the annual budget of the municipalities has increased by 195 million euros more.
Meanwhile, capital investments from line ministries in municipalities include highways, infrastructure improvements in the center and new roads in deeper areas, public lighting and investments in efficient energy, parks, green spaces and sports halls, arrangement of river beds, schools for students and homes for people with difficult financial conditions. “These investments include all municipalities without excluding any area and without discriminating against any community”, he said, while also mentioning the General Grant for Municipalities for the year 2024 that captures the amount of 284.7 million euros, which represents the largest value ever for this grant.
Prime Minister Kurti together with the ministers and deputy ministers present said that they are ready to listen to them and discuss and offer solutions so that in the next meeting these challenges turn into successes.
The prime minister concluded his speech by asking for a minute of silence for the fallen sergeant in the line of duty, the hero Afrim Bunjaku, killed by Serbian terrorists on 24 September in Banjskë of Zveçan.
The Mayor of the Municipality of Ferizaj, at the same time the Chairman of the Association of Municipalities of Kosovo, Agim Aliu, said that such meetings with the central level are welcome, because the respective challenges and proposals are being presented, which the municipalities are facing, and he hoped that these proposals will to find the solution from the ministerial levels within the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, because such are not within the decision-making competence of the municipalities.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear Ministers,
Dear Mayors of Municipalities,
Honorable chairman of the Association of Municipalities of Kosovo, Mr. Agim Ali,
Dear Deputy Ministers and Vice Presidents,
Welcome to the prime minister. A special welcome to the Mayors of new member Municipalities of the Association of Municipalities of Kosovo; Ilir Peci, Mayor of the Municipality of Zveçan; Izmir Zeqiri, Mayor of the Municipality of Zubin Potok and Erden Atiq, Mayor of the Northern Municipality of Mitrovica.
Thank you for responding to our invitation for the fifth meeting of this format, which although often finds us in the same hall and at the same time, rarely finds us with the same topics. This is because each municipality has specifics, challenges and requirements that distinguish one from the other.
And yet, this format serves us to work together through open discussion and take care that the well-being of the citizens increases, while their problems are reduced.
Since the last meeting we had in May, a good news and common success is the victory of Kosovo’s candidacy for the organization of the Prishtina 2030 Mediterranean Games. They include 24 different sports, 11 municipalities in two countries. Prishtina, Gjilan, Mitrovica, Gjakova, Prizren, Ferizaj, Peja, Drenas, Skenderaj, Podujeva, and Durrës in Albania will be the centers where the sports program of the Mediterranean Games will take place.
This includes investments in stadiums, swimming pools, sports halls and other supporting infrastructure. And our municipalities, in addition to having the opportunity to witness our tradition as good hosts and also benefit from many investments that come from the organization of the 2030 Mediterranean Games.
Another achievement for the local level is Kosovo’s membership in the Open Government Partnership – OGP. Our republic is now part of an initiative which is built on the principle of open governance, local democracy and citizen participation in decision-making.
Dear attendees,
The Municipal budget for 2024 amounts to 742 million euros. It is now the second year in a row that the budget growth is in double digits compared to the previous year. In absolute value, the 2024 budget is almost 90 million euros higher compared to 2023. Since the beginning of the mandate, for three years, the annual budget of the municipalities has increased by 195 million euros more.
Capital investments by line ministries in municipalities including highways, infrastructure improvements in the center and new roads in deeper areas, public lighting and investments in efficient energy, parks, green spaces and sports halls, improvement of river beds, schools for students and houses for people with difficult financial conditions. These investments include all municipalities without excluding any area and without discriminating against any community.
The General Grant for Municipalities for the year 2024 captures the amount of 284.7 million euros, which represents the largest value ever for this grant. This record value of the General Grant comes as a direct result of increased revenues in the state budget.
Finally, based on the Municipal Performance Management System Law and the Performance-Based Grant Scheme, we have adopted the necessary legislation for municipalities to report and benefit based on performance and not preference. Allow me to take advantage of the opportunity to emphasize the importance that all municipalities respect the deadlines set for reporting because otherwise they commit legal violations and give signals of a lack of transparency and accountability.
I, along with the ministers and deputy ministers present, are ready to listen to you and discuss and offer solutions so that these challenges can be turned into successes at the next meeting.
Above all, first of all, I thank you for the solidarity and support shown with the Kosovo Police, in these difficult days of confronting criminals and terrorists in a battle which we lost but in which the police sergeant heroically fell, Afrim Bunjaku, for whom I invite you all to observe a minute of silence.
Glory!
Thank you, and now I am passing the floor to the Mayor of the Municipality of Ferizaj, Agim Aliu, also the Chairman of the Association of Municipalities of Kosovo.
Last modified: October 3, 2023