Prishtina, 10 January 2023
In order to deepen cooperation and further expand communication as the Government of the Republic of Kosovo with the municipalities of Kosovo throughout, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, met the mayors of the Municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo. This is the third consecutive meeting of this format in a few months.
In his speech, Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that in the Budget of the Republic of Kosovo for 2023, for the municipal level, there is an increase in the budget of 100 million euros compared to the previous year.
This, as the prime minister said, should also reflect in the increase in the quality of municipal services for our citizens, their well-being, education, health, sports, youth, culture and socio-economic development. At the same time, the prime minister also spoke about the help given to citizens and businesses, the support and promotion of local production in the agricultural sector, about the achievements in the fight against corruption, the official application for membership in the European Union and many other achievements.
Emphasizing the actions undertaken by the Government for the citizens in the municipalities of Kosovo, the Prime Minister emphasized that together, the Government and the municipalities, should, through the literal execution of the 2023 budget, facilitate the lives of the citizens and develop the economy of the municipality and the country. “Our approach as the Government is to be close to the citizens even being close to the municipalities, and for this we need intensification of cooperation between our institutions”, he declared.
As the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, he said that he is open and ready to be close to the municipalities, with the entire government cabinet, to jointly commit to the democratic, economic and social progress of the Republic.
Prime Minister Kurti’s complete speech:
Dear mayors and vice-presidents of the municipalities of Kosovo,
The Honorable Minister of Local Government Administration, Mr. Elbert Krasniqi,
The Honorable Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Mr. Hekuran Murat,
Honorable Minister of Economy, Mrs. Artane Rizvanolli,
Dear attendees,
Allow me to thank you for participating in this table, invited for the purpose of deepening cooperation and further expanding our communication as the Government of the Republic of Kosovo with the municipalities of Kosovo throughout. This is the third time we are meeting in this meeting format within a few months. So, we managed to have periodic joint meetings, always valuing the importance of inter-institutional coordination. In order to have an advanced and well-being Republic, the municipalities of our state must be like this.
The budget of the Republic of Kosovo for 2023 will be over 3.2 billion euros and it is the highest budget ever in independent Kosovo. For the municipal level, there is an increase in the budget of 100 million euros compared to the previous year. This should also reflect in the increase in the quality of municipal services for our citizens, their well-being, education, health, sports, youth, culture and socio-economic development. Also, it should be focused that the spending of this budget is open, transparent and accountable to the citizens. In this regard, I, together with the ministers, have held a series of meetings with citizens to present the budget to the municipalities that we have visited.
For 2023, we have added 240 new positions for inspectorates. So, to have more inspectors, to protect workers rights, to ensure the quality of services; consumer protection; and tax collection, which enables the provision of better public services.
In addition to the great challenge for public health, the Covid-19 pandemic, which greatly affected the economy, last year we also had the energy crisis. Therefore, we disbursed 95 million euros to help citizens and businesses in the face of this crisis. Also, we allocated 6 million euros to 10,000 families to subsidize the equipment, which will reduce energy consumption by about 70%. We have invested in energy efficiency in public buildings in 7 municipalities, where about 4 million euros have been invested and energy savings of 11 million kilowatt hours per year have been achieved.
We will have a chance to discuss it in more detail during the meeting, but you as a municipality should also see the possibilities of how you can help further in the long term.
In order to support and encourage local production in the agricultural sector, last year we allocated over 70 million euros to over 28 thousand farmers. This constitutes the largest ever government support for farmers and farmers. Through capital investments, we enabled the rehabilitation and construction of the irrigation system for 7,750 hectares of agricultural land worth 4.1 million euros for 8 municipalities. For 2023, the budget for farmers and farmers reaches 87 million euros. Together with the support from external funds, we expect it to exceed the value of 100 million euros. Last week, together with Minister Faton Peci, we unveiled the Program for Direct Payments – 2023, which will contribute to the agricultural sector and the economic strengthening of our farmers.
This year, Kosovo was ranked up to 17 places in Transparency International for the fight against corruption. So, in the year in which we left behind, we significantly improved the image of our country and we ended the year with the official application for membership in the European Union. Kosovo has begun to free itself from corruption, and in this way to increase cooperation with international organizations and bodies.
Dear attendees,
We are committed to digitalization and that digitalized services are advanced. The Information Society Agency, AShI, through the eKosova Platform, which is the central platform for providing digitized services, has so far managed to offer about 130 electronic services. Our commitment to facilitating services for citizens has made us rise from group C to group B in the World Bank index in terms of focus on digital governance. The digitization of municipal administrative services and procedures will affect the increase in the efficiency of services, as well as the transparency of institutions.
Dear attendees,
I am very interested that today, and every day, and in every such meeting, we have these issues on the agenda, which directly affect the lives and well-being of citizens. There are also many other joint projects and initiatives, but there are also many challenges. Therefore, together, we should, through the literal execution of the 2023 budget, ease the lives of citizens and develop the economy of the municipality and the country. Our approach as the Government is to be close to the citizens even being close to the municipalities, and for this we need intensification of cooperation between our institutions.
As the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, I am open and ready to be close to you, with my colleagues who are here today, but also with the entire government cabinet, to jointly commit to the democratic, economic and social progress of the Republic.
Thank you very much for your participation, for your contribution and role, and I also welcome your participation and contribution to the discussions during today’s third round table.
Now I am passing the floor to the Minister of Local Government Administration, Mr. Elbert Krasniqi, so that we can then continue with discussions.
Last modified: January 11, 2023