Prishtina, 28 October 2026
Honourable Minister of Digitalisation and Public Administration, Mr Lulëzon Jagxhiu,
Honourable ministers and representatives of the governments of participating countries,
Honourable ambassadors and representatives of international organisations,
Honourable representatives of public institutions, academia and civil society,
Esteemed participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Prishtina for the fourth edition of the International Conference on Public Administration, KosovaPAR2026.
Thank you for joining us to discuss an issue of particular importance to our states and societies: how public institutions create value for citizens.
This year’s theme, “Public Value and the Common Good – People, Trust and Digitalisation”, gives us an opportunity to reflect together on a fundamental question: What should citizens expect from our institutions?
Citizens expect quality services, fair decisions, transparent institutions and a state that responds to their needs. They expect public resources to be used responsibly and institutions to deliver results.
Public administration is one of the pillars underpinning the functioning of democracy, economic development and citizens’ trust in the state. Therefore, for the Republic of Kosovo, public administration reform is not merely a technical or administrative process, but part of our efforts to strengthen institutions, improve governance and advance towards European integration.
The success of reforms is measured not only by the policies we adopt, but also by the practical and tangible changes they bring to citizens’ lives. This requires professional institutions, clear responsibilities, sustainable capacities and accountability for results.
Esteemed participants,
Today, we are moving towards a significant change in how services are delivered: organising them around life events rather than the structures of institutions. We have already begun this reform. Citizens should not need to understand the state’s administrative map to access a service. It is the institutions that must coordinate and respond to citizens in the simplest and most integrated way possible.
This requires digitalization to go hand in hand with changes to processes and working culture. At the same time, we are creating the conditions for the use of artificial intelligence in public administration to simplify processes and enable more efficient and proactive services.
However, technology must serve the public interest. The use of artificial intelligence must be responsible, transparent and secure, with human oversight and respect for citizens’ rights and human rights.
Nevertheless, people remain at the centre of this transformation. Strong institutions are built by people who are well prepared, dedicated and have integrity.
We must therefore continue investing in the professionalism of the public service, developing competencies and creating opportunities for younger generations who will shape the administration of the future.
Citizens’ trust is equally important. Trust is not earned through statements or strategies alone. It is built every day through the way institutions make decisions, deliver services, treat citizens and account for their decisions and actions. An administration that acts fairly, transparently and professionally is one that strengthens trust in the state.
Esteemed guests,
The challenges we are discussing are shared by many countries. This makes regional and international cooperation particularly important. For Kosovo and the countries of the region, improving public administration and aligning it with European standards are closely linked to our European future.
The KosovaPAR2026 Conference is an opportunity to share experiences, learn from one another and identify solutions that deliver tangible results. Over these two days, I encourage you to focus your discussions not only on today’s challenges, but also on the administration we wish to build for the future.
A professional and capable administration. An administration that embraces innovation, protects citizens’ rights and is accountable for results. Above all, an administration that creates public value and serves the common good.
In conclusion, I thank the Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Administration, the participating institutions, international partners, speakers and organizers for their contributions.
I wish you fruitful discussions, valuable exchanges of experiences and ideas, and, of course, a successful conference.
Welcome to Kosovo, and I wish you every success in the proceedings of KosovaPAR2026!
Thank you for your attention!