Pristina, 27 December 2023
The Government of the Republic of Kosovo held its regular meeting today, the last one for this year, in which it has:
– Approved the National Development Plan 2024-2026. In order to fulfill the main priorities of the Government, last year the Government initiated the planning and monitoring of performance, through the unified platform of the National Development Plan, which includes four main pillars: (1) Sustainable economic growth, (2) Equal human development, (3) Security and rule of law, and (4) Good governance. The plan covers 11 different sectors, including digital economy, infrastructure, environment, education, employment, health, culture, peace and security, justice, effective governance and strengthening of international subjectivity.
– Approved the Draft Law on the Independent Media Commission. A law that will reform the media sector and will address and regulate: the competencies of the IMC, media ownership, child protection, and access for people with disabilities. Furthermore, it will determine the policies of transmission and retransmission, monitoring the audiovisual content presented in online media and video distribution platforms, setting high standards even in matters of sponsorship, product placement, television advertising and commercial communications.
– Approved the Draft Law for the Security Council of the Republic of Kosovo, which aims at consolidating and strengthening the security sector, establishing the foundations of an integrated security architecture system, which will serve national security, and achieving state objectives and goals.
– Approved the Draft Law on the Ratification of Amendment No. 3 of the Financial Agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and the European Union for the IPA 2015 Program. The purpose of this international agreement is to extend the deadline for implementing the 2015 IPA annual program for an additional 2 years.
– Approved the Draft law on International Agreement for Kosovo’s Participation in the Programme for “Digital Europe” (2021-2027) between the Republic of Kosovo and the European Union. The agreement is of special importance as it offers opportunities for the development of technologies, services, and products for businesses, citizens, and public administration. Within the framework of this Program, 9.2 billion euros have been allocated for the EU and Western Balkan countries.
– Approved the Draft Law on Harmonization of Special Laws with Law on Minor Offenses. The purpose of this law is to amend and supplement 31 laws with the aim of harmonizing them with Law No. 05/L- 087 on Minor Offenses.
– Approved the Draft Law on the Status, Temporary Stay and Transit of Foreign Armed Forces in the Territory of the Republic of Kosovo. This law aims to regulate the status of foreign armed forces, accompanying civilian personnel of these forces, and their dependents, during their temporary stay within the framework of international military cooperation in the field of defense and security, as well as their transit procedures, in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo.
– Approved the Draft Law on Allocation for Use and Exchange of Municipal Immovable Property. This law ensures the stability and increase in the value of the community’s immovable property for local economic development and the fulfillment of the general interest.
– Approved the Draft Law on Administrative Review of Municipal Acts. This Draft Law aims to strengthen the capacity of local self-government bodies in fulfilling their responsibilities through counseling, support, and assistance; to ensure the legality of the activities of local self-government bodies; and to ensure that the rights and interests of citizens are respected.
– The Draft Law on Consumer Protection through which the consumer protection, the responsibilities of the trader and the responsibilities of the consumer in the purchase of products and services will be regulated.
– Approved Law on Central Market Supervision Inspectorate. This law regulates the activity of the Central Market Supervisory Inspectorate. The purpose of this Draft Law is to regulate the activity of this inspectorate, as well as to determine the organization and competencies of the market inspection supervision, throughout the territory of the Republic of Kosovo. One of the key objectives of the Government is to empower the role of inspection bodies, in which case the Law on Inspections has been approved in the Kosovo Assembly. Whereas, with the approval of this special Draft Law, a functional and easily applicable legal basis will be established for the functioning of the Market Inspectorate, making it a central body, with scope in the 7 regions of Kosovo.
– Approved the Draft Law on Citizenship of Kosovo. It facilitates the acquisition of citizenship for people equipped with a permanent residence permit in extraordinary circumstances, including Albanians from Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac who have been living in Kosovo for years, and who face discrimination by Serbian authorities through address erasure. Regulating their status is a priority for our Government.
– Approved the Regulation on Work Procedures in Multidisciplinary Tables for Assistance in Case Management. This regulation addresses the specific issues related to case assessment and the provision of quality social services for every child in social need. This sub-legal act is also in implementation of the Child Protection Law.
– Approved the Administrative Instruction for Licensing of Foreign Health Professionals. This Administrative Instruction is crucial for the recognition of professional qualifications and licensing procedures for health professionals, with increased efficiency and lower costs.
– Approved the Concept-document for dealing with the issues of preventing money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism. The aim, through this Concept-document, the prevention of money laundering, related criminal offenses and the fight against the financing of terrorism, the reduction of the informal economy and establishing economic stability.
– Established the Office for the Administration of Public Property within the Office of the Prime Minister. The Office for the Administration of Public Property under the Office of the Prime Minister is established based on Law No. 08/L-125 on Public Property and Law No. 06/L-113 on the Organization and Functioning of State Administration and Independent Agencies.
– Established an ad hoc Commission that will appoint candidates for the Board of the Independent Commission for Mining with the following composition:
1.1. Mrs. Lule Isufi, Chairperson;
1.2. Mr. Rafet Zeqiri, Member;
1.3. Mrs. Easter flower, Member;
1.4. Mr. Genc Hundozi, Member;
1.5. Mr. Taulant Tanushaj, Member.
– Appointed the Inter-ministerial Coordinating Group against domestic violence, violence against women and gender-based violence. The Inter-ministerial Coordinating Group against domestic violence, violence against women and gender-based violence will have the following composition:
1.6. Mrs. Albulena Haxhiu – National Coordinator Against Violence Against Women, Against Domestic Violence and Against Gender-Based Violence, Chairperson;
1.7. Mrs. Edi Gusia – Agency for Gender Equality, Deputy Chairperson;
1.8. Mr. Blerim Gashani – Ministry of Internal Affairs, Member;
1.9. Mr. Avni Zogiani – Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Member;
1.10. Mrs. Nazlie Bala – Ministry of Justice, Member;
1.11. Mrs. Dafina Gexha Bunjaku – Ministry of Health, Member;
1.12. Mr. Taulant Kelmendi – Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Member;
1.13. Mr. Arbër Vokrri, Ministry of Local Government Administration, Member;
1.14. Mr. Sylejman Elshani, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Member;
1.15. Mr. Arbnesh Ajvazi, Kosovo Police, Member;
1.16. State Prosecutor’s Office, Member;
1.17. Mrs. Mirlinda Bytyqi Rexhepi, Judicial Council of Kosovo, Member;
1.18. Mrs. Luljete Hetemi, Academy of Justice, Member;
1.19. Mrs. Zana Hamiti, Kosovo Shelters Coalition, Member;
1.20. Mr. Burhan Maxhuni, Victim’s Protection and Assistance Office, Member, and
1.21. Mr. Blerim Shabani, Representative of the Center for Social Work, Member.
– Approved the request of the Ministry of Health for the approval of the project “Construction of the Emergency Center – UCCK”
– Approved for further consideration of requests for expropriation in the public interest of immovable properties which impacted by implementation of the Project: Construction of the Pristina-Gjilan-Dheu i Bardhe motorway, the Banule-Bresalc Segment.
– Approved the Ex-Post analysis of Local Democracy Mechanisms. This analysis aims to make an assessment of the implementation, compliance and results achieved by the municipalities on all mechanisms of local democracy. The law came into effect in 2008, and since that time until now there has been no change to this legal framework.
– Approved the report on the Ex-Post Evaluation of Law No. 05/1-134 on the Legalization and delivery of weapons, ammunition and explosive devices. The Legal Department of the Ministry of Interior has assessed the need for its Ex-post evaluation, with the aim of identifying the main challenges in implementation, as well as compliance with other legislation in force. The report, among other things, recommends fundamental changes to the law in order to regulate its substance and structure. The analysis and assessment aim at reformation and advancement in this field.
– Approved the Ex-post Evaluation Report of the Administrative Instruction (GRK) 10/2017 on the List of Indicators for the Official Identification of Victims of Human Trafficking. In summary, the Report emphasizes the importance of including new indicators such as the online recruitment and exploitation of trafficking victims, as well as that of irregular immigrants and asylum seekers. The report also recommends strengthening the indicators related to forced marriages of children and/or exploitation for begging.
– Approved the request of the Ministry of Defense for the allocation of budgetary resources in the amount of six million five hundred and fifty thousand euros (€6,550,000.00) to cover contractual obligations.
– Approved the National Strategy for Youth 2024-2032. This strategic document enables the youth policy to be implemented by all public institutions and translates into multiple public investment to address the needs of young people. So, in addition to being a document that guides us towards development, it will also be a tool for cross-sectoral policy-making for the youth. In order to make this document of particular importance as accessible as possible, it has been drafted in five languages – Albanian, Serbian, English, Turkish and the Roma language.
– Approved the Strategy on Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Communities and their Members 2023-2027 and action plan. The strategy is the main document for the development of communities in Kosovo for the 2023-2027 period. The purpose of this Strategy is to strengthen protection of and provide sustainable solutions for the inclusiveness of communities in education, employment, social welfare, housing, property issues, use of languages and health.
– Approved Action Plan 2023-2025, supported by the Strategy for Multimodal Transport 2023-2030. Through this Plan, the aim is to increase capacities through management reforms, enhance transport safety, a cleaner environment by utilizing zero-emission vehicles, and digitization in the field of transport.
– Approved the Draft Statute of the University Hospital and Clinical Service of Kosovo. The University Hospital and Clinical Service of Kosovo (UHCSK) aims to provide continuous, quality, safe and accessible health services for all. Therefore, the clarification and rectification of ambiguities and deficiencies within the structure of this institution is necessary. This Draft Statute defines the scope, organization, governing bodies, rights and obligations, the manner of election of governing bodies, as well as other issues relevant for the activity and functioning of the UHCSK.
– Approved the decision to request the President of the Republic of Kosovo to grant authorization to the Minister of Justice, for the signing of the Agreement to amend and supplement the Extradition Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the Government of the Republic of Italy. The Republic of Kosovo has managed to advance its position in international relations. In light of this, Republic of Italy has now agreed to further deepen cooperation in the field of extraditions, becoming the first European country to allow the extradition of its citizens to the Republic of Kosovo.
– Approved the Concept Document on Domicile and Residence. This concept document was initiated based on factual problems identified in relation to the correct address of citizens, difficulties in changing the place of residence, obstacles in communicating information on addresses between institutions, as well as technological developments.
– Approved the National Response Plan. National Response Plan (NRP).
– Approved the Draft Law on Agricultural Crop Invoices and Warehouses Receipts. This law regulates Agricultural Crop Invoices and Warehouse Receipts as financial instruments to ensure financing of working capital for the agriculture sector and determines the legal and economic basis, principles and rules for their issuance, public registration, placement and circulation in Kosovo.
– Approved the request for the allocation of budgetary resources to cover the shortage of funds for the execution of salaries for December 2023.
– Approved the request of the Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers for savings and budget allocations, according to the tables attached to the decision.
– Amended and supplemented Decision No. 08/169 dated 27 October 2023 and repealed Government Decision No. 24/178 of 13 December 2023.
– Approved the request of the Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure for the transfer of funds based on Article 30.3 of Law No. 03/L-048 on Public Finance Management.
– Approved a decision through which, the budget of the four municipalities in the north of the country, i.e. Leposaviq, Zubin Potok, Zveçan and the northern municipality of Mitrovica, will be used to pay part of the outstanding debt to KOSTT. A total of 11,880,246.33 euros, including funds allocated to the Development Trust Fund, is received by these four municipalities and transferred to KOSTT to pay a portion of the debt for the consumed energy.
Last modified: December 29, 2023