Prishtina, 27 December 2024
Dear Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Dear citizens,
Over the past few days, we have received numerous concerns regarding the electricity supply in several municipalities in Kosovo.
We have continuously conveyed these concerns to the transmission and distribution network operators, KOSTT and KEDS, and have requested maximum engagement from them in several areas:
– Intensive on-site efforts to resolve the technical issues of the network, including breakdowns and overload management.
– Clear and frequent communication with citizens.
– Urgent completion of works on the new substation in Ferizaj, which will resolve the issues in Ferizaj and positively impact the surrounding municipalities.
The inauguration of the new substation in Fushe Kosova a week ago and the repair of fire damage from several months ago at the Prishtina 3 substation had a very positive impact on the supply in these areas. We expect similar results in Ferizaj.
As in every previous winter, we urge citizens to rationalize their electricity consumption, especially between 18:00 and midnight, for the sake of supply security for themselves and the entire country.
Since this is the last meeting of the year, allow me to share with you, esteemed colleagues and dear citizens, our 10 top achievements we have accomplished together as a Government in 2024:
1. Firstly, visa liberalization by the European Union, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Taiwan, as well as the recognition of the passport of the Republic of Kosovo by two non-recognizing states, Spain and Armenia. 2024 has been the year of our passport. Today, it ranks higher than ever before in international passport indices, and according to the Henley Index, it is among the top 10 passports in the world that have marked the greatest improvement in the last decade.
2. This year marked the beginning of electricity registration and billing in our four northern municipalities, for the first time in over two decades. Additionally, the process of converting illegal driving licenses into those of the Republic of Kosovo was successfully completed this year. Over 6,300 conversions have been registered, most of them by citizens of the four northern municipalities, demonstrating a willingness and readiness for integration, which has always existed among the citizens but has been persistently hindered by illegal structures and official Belgrade. Many of these illegal structures have now been dismantled because they are unlawful. The situation there is now entirely different.
3. After disconnecting from the energy bloc with Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia and joining the regulatory energy bloc with Albania, the inauguration of the ALPEX power exchange represents another significant milestone in our energy independence and national cooperation. In addition, we successfully concluded the first solar auction in the Republic’s history for new capacities of 100MW, won by the “Orllati” consortium from our diaspora in Switzerland. This month, we also launched the second auction for renewable energy, the first for wind energy, with a capacity of 100MW as well. Additionally, the Compact Program of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), including a $236.7 million energy investment, came into force this year. Thus, 2024 lays the solid foundation for our energy security and the deployment of new capacities, strengthening us against potential crises.
4. Public healthcare has become better, more affordable and provides more services. The Orthopedics Clinic, Oncology Clinic, Urology, Gynecology, Cardiac Surgery, Emergency Clinic, Operating Ward in the Thoracic Clinic, Operating Ward in Neurosurgery – Vascular Surgery, Pediatrics Ward in Mitrovica, Blood Transfusion in Gjilan and the Children’s Psychiatry Clinic have all been thoroughly and completely transformed. With the Administrative Instruction on “-payments for Healthcare Services”, some vital services for citizens are now free of charge or available at more affordable prices. Furthermore, with the Law on Unified Drug Prices and the approval of the list, starting from 1 February 2025, drug prices will be significantly reduced.
5. Pensions have been increased by 20%. Elderly pensioners, beneficiaries of disability and invalidity pension schemes, are already receiving their pensions with the increase applied, while from next month, the execution of increased pensions for war-related categories will commence. In addition to the regular increase, all our pensioners, as in the previous year and for the fifth consecutive time during our mandate, will receive a one-time allowance of €100 this month.
6. We have doubled and tripled child allowances—doubled for families with one or two children and tripled for families with three or more children. Additionally, as last year, we have provided end-of-year support amounting to €100. This support benefits over 400 thousand children across our country.
7. After 13 years, we now have a new minimum wage, which is more than double the previous amount. Thanks to this year’s strong economic performance, salaries in the public sector will increase once again. The new Basic Salary, becoming effective in 2025, will see an increase of €110. The increase will occur in two phases. The first phase will begin in January next year, providing a €55 increase, while the second phase comes into effect in July 2025, completing the total €110 increase, or one higher unit in the base salary coefficient.
8. In the name of justice, peace and the preservation of truth, we have operationalized the Institute for Documenting Crimes Committed During the War, which, within this year, has collected approximately 190 meters of physical archival material and around 15 terabytes (TB) of digital material (videos, audio, photos) documenting crimes committed during the war in Kosovo, sourced from 67 different entities. We have selected the winning concept and signed the contract for drafting the Master Plan for the “Adem Jashari” Memorial Complex in Prekaz. Additionally, we have made the decision to establish the Museum of Genocide and Struggle for Freedom.
9. The process of Population, Households and Housing Census process has been successfully completed—an extraordinary institutional undertaking of immense importance for our country, which was highly praised by oversight teams from partner international organizations, experts from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
10. In addition to increasing the number of soldiers, strengthening the army and acquiring various armaments, we have taken a significant step in laying the foundations of our defense industry by signing a contract with the Turkish state-owned manufacturer MKE for operationalizing the Ammunition Factory.
Today, I listed only 10 achievements. There are many other results that are not on this list but perhaps deserve to be. To do justice to these as well, esteemed members of our government cabinet, I invite each of you to share with our citizens, whom we collectively serve, your top five achievements in 2024 by the end of the year.
Thank you.
Last modified: December 30, 2024