Prizren, November 22, 2022
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, is visiting the country’s municipalities, where he is talking with their citizens about the 2023 budget, projects and initiatives aimed at making life easier for citizens and developing our economy.
Prime Minister Kurti had the first meeting and conversation with citizens in the Municipality of Prizren, together with the two ministers of the Government of Kosovo, the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Mr. Hekuran Murati and with the Minister of Local Government Administration, Mr. Elbert Krasniqi, where deputies, advisers in ministries and other municipal and central officials were also present.
Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that 2023 budget, i.e. 3 billion and 212 million euros, is the highest in the history of our Republic. This is because despite the challenges of global crises, last year we had the most successful year in the history of our state, in terms of budget revenues and economic growth. Even in 2023, as he said, welfare, health, education, defense and agriculture continue to be priorities of the Government of Kosovo.
In his speech to the citizens of this municipality, Prime Minister talked about budget allocation for the Municipality of Prizren, in health, education, culture, infrastructure and many other projects and initiatives. For the Municipality of Prizren, the budget for 2023 is over 92.5 million euros.
After his speech and the presentation of the budget for 2023, Prime Minister Kurti participated in a conversation with citizens of this municipality to listen to them about the budget issue.
Prime Minister Kurti’s speech at the presentation of the Budget for 2023 to citizens of the municipality of Prizren:
Dear citizens of the Municipality of Prizren, Dear citizens of the Republic, Ladies and gentlemen, Sisters and brothers,
Welcome to the beautiful city of Prizren.
I am happy that we are here today, together with the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Mr. Hekuran Murati and with the Minister of Local Government Administration, Mr. Elbert Krasniqi, to talk about the Budget of the Republic of Kosovo for 2023, about projects and initiatives, to make life easier for citizens and to develop our economy.
Here are also some deputies of the Assembly of the Republic, then advisers in our ministries and other municipal and central officials.
The budget of the Republic of Kosovo for 2023 will be 3 billion and 212 million euros, i.e. 3 billion and 212 million euros, of which budget revenues will be 2 billion and 884 million euros. This budget is the highest in the history of our Republic. This is because despite global crisis challenges, last year we had the most successful year in the history of our state, in terms of budget revenues and economic growth.
For the Municipality of Prizren, the budget for 2023 is over 92.5 million euros, i.e. over 92 and a half million or exactly 92 million 564 thousand 537. I am telling you exactly how much it is, because you are the ones who have to look at every Euro and every cent how it is invested and spent, in which case of these over 92.5 million euros for capital expenditures in Prizren, we have allocated over 32 million euros, so over 32 million euros. Or exactly 320.72.593.
Dear citizens,
Even in 2023, welfare, health, education, defense and agriculture continue to be our priorities.
We have allocated 296 million euros for the health sector at the central and local level, 296 million euros. And of these, 60 million euros are for essential drugs, so something over 20 percent of the overall health budget is for essential drugs, to ensure that hospitals and family medicine centers are well supplied to provide services as more qualitative towards the citizens.
The Ministry of Health will renovate the Transfusion Center in Prizren. In order to improve primary health services in Prizren, for 2023, among other things, we have allocated a budget for the municipality of Prizren for the purchase of medical devices, laboratory equipment and dental equipment, digitization of emergency services, purchase of an ambulance for the Family Medicine Center , the construction of Family Medicine Centers in Korishë, and in KFOR, as well as the construction of Family Medicine Center annexes in the villages of Gjonaj, Reqan and Zhur.
We have also accompanied the increase in the health infrastructure budget with the increase in the number of medical staff, where we have added 400 positions: 100 positions for the central level and 300 for the local level, all over Kosovo, and Prizren, as you know, is the second largest municipality in the Republic of Kosovo.
At the national level, we have added 243 new staff positions, so that all the nurseries built so far are operational, and we have also fulfilled our promise of 500 assistants for children with disabilities.
And in line with our promise for early childhood development, we have continued the budget line for the construction of nurseries, where this year we have budgeted the construction of 11 nurseries in the country, including the nursery in Prizren. In the 2023 budget, funds have been allocated for the construction and renovation of school buildings in the Municipality of Prizren.
As a reforming government, we strongly believe in the many and transformative opportunities that information technology brings. We believe that digitization is a means by which, especially our young people, become part of the global market and part of sustainable development, here in Kosovo. Therefore, for 2023, we have allocated 260,000 euros for the creation of the Center for Digital Excellence in the Innovation and Training Park (ITP)-Prizren.
And at a time when international food prices are continuing to rise, in addition to the additional support we gave to our farmers in 2022, for 2023 the budget increase has continued, reaching for the first time the figure of 87 million euros for agriculture, which together with the support from external funds, we expect to exceed the value of 100 million euros, which was also our promise.
For next year, with 2023 budget, the rehabilitation of irrigation canals and the drainage of agricultural lands in Korishë, Velezh, Nashec, Hoqë të Qytetit, Vlashnë e Romajë are planned.
Support in the security and defense sector in the current context becomes even more important. Therefore, we have added 300 new positions for the Kosovo Police, and we have increased the budget for the purchase of modern weaponry for our army.
The allowances for maternity and children that we promised, we started on time and in 2023 we are fulfilling our promise by including all children under the age of 16 in the scheme. And for this purpose, we have allocated a budget in the amount of 60 million euros.
Return of state customs terminals was also one of our promises, the materialization of which we will continue with the terminal at the airport of Pristina and in Vërmica, as well as with other terminals, for the functioning of which we allocated 6 million euros.
We have budgeted the completion of the roads that have been in the process for several years, as well as added the budget for the construction of the Prizren-Tetovo road. Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure has allocated 6 million euros to the budget for the repair of the regional road Prizren – Prevalle, as well as funds for the construction of the Planej-Pashtrik road, the repair of the road in Jeta e Re neighborhood and for the Cable Car in Prizren.
We have allocated a budget for numerous projects for the road infrastructure in the Municipality of Prizren; for the construction of new roads and the rehabilitation of existing ones, as well as sewerage, water supply and sidewalks in the streets of the city and villages of Prizren.
We will continue to support public enterprises, in their return to profitability, so that they become contributors to economic development, therefore we have again allocated 40 million euros at the central level, for investments in these enterprises.
For state reserves, we have allocated an additional 15 million euros for 2023 to continue filling them, after allocating 10 million euros with the draft budget from last year for the year 2022 in which we are.
To support citizens to overcome the energy crisis, with the support of the European Union, we will have another 75 million euros, in addition to the many projects in the energy sector that will start soon, such as the one with the expansion of heating central, the solar park in KEK, and batteries with MCC.
In order to protect workers’ rights, to ensure quality of services, to protect consumers and to collect taxes that enable the provision of better public services, at the country level we have added 240 new positions for inspectorates.
As per the protection and preservation of the rich cultural heritage in the museum city of Prizren, we have shared the following: €400,000 for the Historical Center of Prizren, €500,000 for the revitalization of Marin Barleti street, € 100,000 for the permanent exhibition in the Monumental Complex of the Albanian League of Prizren, € 300,000 for the National Center for Cultural Heritage, €100,000 for the Filigree Museum in Prizren and €300,000 for the construction of Prizren Intermunicipal Archive building. Government remains engaged during the next year, to preserve the inherited values and transmit them to future generations.
And for our youth and generations of athletes, we have allocated €2,600,000 for the construction of cultural, youth and sports facilities.
Dear citizens,
There are also many other projects and initiatives that are in this budget, which is the highest ever, and which puts us in a more favorable position for overcoming the challenges that may await us during the next year 2023.
More other details about next year’s budget will be presented by Minister Murati and then by Minister Krasniqi, and after that we will be able to open the discussion with you. Thank you once again for your participation and contribution.
Last modified: November 24, 2022