Prishtina, 6 December, 2023
Under the organization of the Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers, the meeting was held today for the presentation of measure 1.2 for reducing the impact of the energy crisis on families on social assistance, namely subsidizing the purchase of fuel for the winter for families on social assistance.
With Measure 1.2, which focuses on the vulnerable groups of society, those who most need the hand of the state, it will be possible to subsidize the purchase of heating fuel for families on social assistance, with the aim of overcoming as much as possible easy winter for these families. Five million euros have been allocated for this measure. About 21 thousand families and about 81 thousand citizens are expected to benefit from it.
In his introductory speech, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that the end of the year symbolizes a period where we all celebrate achievements and reflect on the challenges we have faced. He added that he is happy that in the field of social welfare many challenges have been overcome and they have been turned into achievements. Considering it as an essential pillar within the Government Program, the Prime Minister emphasized that due to the fact that they were surrounded by a difficult and difficult environment, this has strengthened even more the commitment and support of the Government towards the care of the citizens.
He said that after these almost three years, our citizens now know that in the face of the difficulties of the time they will never be alone or lonely, because “we are and remain a government that leads and supports, that leads and that does not leave anyone behind “.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transport, Hekuran Murati, spoke about the way of subsidizing this amount, which is realized directly in the bank accounts of the beneficiary families.
He also clarified the way of benefiting from this measure. “As a family, the benefit is 120 euros, which is equivalent to 2 cubic meters, while for each member of the family it is an additional 30 euros, which means that for a family of four it will be 120 euros for the family, another 120 euros, so from 30 euros for each member, which amounts to a family of four in total, I will accept 240 euros as support in order to overcome the winter season as easily as possible”, he said.
Minister Murati emphasized that in order to benefit from this measure, there is no need to apply, since the Centers for Social Work already have families that accept social support.
This measure is supported by the European Union, within the Emergency Energy Package of the European Union.
In this important event, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, was accompanied by the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Hekuran Murati and the Head of the Cooperation Section at the European Union Office in Kosovo, Johannes Madsen Stenbaek. Also present were the Deputy Minister of Finance, Labor and Transport, Avni Zogiani and the Chairman of the League of Centers for Social Work in Kosovo, Blerim Shabani.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear representatives of the Centers for Social Work
Ladies and gentleman,
Good morning and welcome,
Dear Minister of Finance, Labor and Transport, Mr. Hekuran Murati,
Dear Mr. Johannes Madsen Stenbaeks, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Office in Kosovo,
Dear Deputy Minister of Finance, Labor and Transport, Mr. Avni Zogiani,
Honorable Chairman of the League of Centers for Social Work in Kosovo, Mr. Blerim Shabani,
Dear attendees,
The end of the year is the time when we all celebrate achievements and reflect on challenges. I am happy that in the field of social welfare we have overcome many challenges and even turned them into achievements. Together we had to face the pandemic, the consequences of Russian aggression in Ukraine and an all-encompassing energy crisis.
The fact that we were surrounded by an often difficult and difficult environment only intensified our commitment to care for the citizen: an essential pillar of our Government Program.
Depending on the circumstances, the method may have changed, but never our final goal. As the Government, we executed the strategy for the protection and increase of the well-being of the citizens, especially those who needed it the most, in two directions. On the one hand, I respond to the need to alleviate the difficulties that the aforementioned crises caused to family economies. And on the other hand, we encouraged sustainable solutions for these families through employment in the labor market. So we were responsive and responsible. Even proactive and conscious.
Regarding the first, we started it by increasing social assistance by 30% above its regular level in 2021. Then we continued the support by doubling social assistance four times between 2021 and 2022. Then, we supported with 1.4 million euro 19 popular kitchens and we cooperated with NGOs in providing over 36,000 food packages and about 350,000 shoes to vulnerable sections of society. Already in the first year of our government, we started taking care of expectant mothers and children under 16 years old through allowances for them, from which more than 49,000 new mothers and 387,000 children have benefited so far. Currently, we are in the process of subsidizing electricity for vulnerable consumers.
In addition to these, as a second step, we prepared and launched the “Government for Families” Scheme, through which more than 2,200 families were enabled to have at least one employed member, which previously had no one employed in those families. Meanwhile, through the agreement in the amount of 47 million euros with the World Bank, we are aiming for a general reform of the social assistance scheme, which removes discrimination within the beneficiary categories and promotes the activation of the beneficiaries in the labor market.
Today, we are together to present a measure that focuses on the vulnerable groups of society. Those who most need the hand of the state. At the 174th meeting of the Government, we allocated 5 million euros. With this amount, the Government will enable subsidizing the purchase of fuel for heating for families on social assistance, with the aim of getting through the winter as easily as possible for these families. We will implement this measure in cooperation and with the support of the European Union.
The Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Mr. Hekuran Murati, will inform us more about the way of subsidizing this measure in his speech.
Finally, I want to add that after all these challenges and vicissitudes of more than 32 months, for many more months ahead and years together, our citizens know that in the face of the difficulties of the time, they will never be alone or lonely. We are and will remain the Government that leads and supports. Who leads, and who leaves no one behind.
Thank you.
Minister Hekuran, the floor is yours.
Last modified: December 6, 2023