Prishtina, 29 September 2026
Honourable Mr Fikrim Damka, Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and Cooperation,
Honourable Mr Lulëzon Jagxhiu, Minister of Digitalisation and Public Administration,
Honourable Mr Nenad Rašić, Minister for Communities and Return,
Honourable Mr Jonathan Hargreaves, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Republic of Kosovo,
Honourable representative of the Embassy of Switzerland,
Honourable representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), municipalities and communities,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Distinguished guests,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the handover ceremony of the Communities Issues Platform.
The platform was developed by the IOM in 2024, with the support of the United Kingdom and Switzerland, for which I would like to express my gratitude. The Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Administration has adapted it to our government systems. Thus, what began as a project is now becoming a public service of the Government.
The platform enables citizens from all non-majority communities—Serb, Bosniak, Turkish, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, Gorani, Montenegrin and Croat—to find the information they need in one place. This is important because citizens can exercise their rights and make use of opportunities only when they are well informed about them. The platform has two main functions:
First, it provides information on Government policies, as well as the latest opportunities for grants, subsidies, employment, training and internships.
Second, it enables citizens to report discrimination directly, thereby establishing two-way communication between the Government and the communities.
Kosovo has one of the most advanced legal frameworks for non-majority communities, complemented by affirmative measures and numerous opportunities.
This year, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has organized a series of workshops with non-majority communities. Many participants highlighted the difficulties they face in navigating the system and identifying where and how to claim their rights, as information is scattered across numerous sources.
Meanwhile, about a month ago, on 31 August, to be precise, I met with the Municipal Offices for Communities and Return, where we discussed the need for better coordination between central and local institutions. This is because many issues affecting communities arise precisely at the local level and often require the involvement of more than one institution. With this platform, we are addressing both of these issues by bringing together information from central institutions and municipalities in one place.
Nevertheless, the platform is still in its early stages. Its success depends on all institutions, both central and local, regularly providing it with accurate and up-to-date information. It also depends on all citizens of our shared state, from both the majority and non-majority communities, who can help ensure that the information it provides reaches those who need it most.
This platform is part of our broader policies for non-majority communities, which are guided by four principles: inclusiveness and solidarity; socio-economic justice; cultural revitalization and linguistic rights; and democratic representation.
Building on these principles, Kosovo has become one of the strongest democracies in the Western Balkans and beyond. This is also reflected in international indices measuring democracy, the rule of law and the fight against corruption. According to the V-Dem Institute, for example, Kosovo ranks among the countries with the highest scores in both the Liberal Democracy Index and the Egalitarian Democracy Index. The former measures the extent to which rights and freedoms are protected, while the latter, compiled by the V-Dem Institute, shows how equally different groups in society enjoy those rights and freedoms.
Alongside its democratic progress, Kosovo is also experiencing sustained economic growth, with gross domestic product increasing by 5.4 per cent in the first quarter of this year and by 4.1 per cent in the second quarter. Citizens from all communities benefit from this growth. Over the past five years, unemployment has fallen from 26 to 10 per cent. Our social programmes, ranging from support for new mothers and child allowances to assistance with education, employment and businesses, are available to all citizens without distinction. In the social assistance scheme alone, one quarter of beneficiary families, or 25 per cent, belong to non-majority communities.
In addition to these general policies, we have also introduced specific measures. Between 2021 and 2025, we allocated €1 million to learning centres, which have supported around 2,000 children. Around 2,000 Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian students attending secondary schools have benefited from scholarships, while public universities award special scholarships every year to students from non-majority communities. Since 2023, we have verified 721 diplomas issued by the University of North Mitrovica, enabling graduates to seek employment in the public sector.
At the same time, we are increasing the representation of communities in our institutions through targeted recruitment campaigns. Over these years, we have also funded 400 projects in education, culture, sports, healthcare and religious events, while continuing to provide regular support to community-based non-governmental organisations.
In the upcoming governing mandate, our focus will be on creating more high-quality, better-paid jobs and increasing the participation of young people and women in the labour market, including through the expansion of the “Superpuna for Women” programme and the dual education system.
On the one hand, the Government provides policies, funding and programmes. On the other, making the most of these opportunities requires the willingness, participation and commitment of every citizen. Information is what connects the two, and this platform makes it easier for everyone to know where and how to access these opportunities.
The platform will be managed by the Office for Community Affairs here at the Office of the Prime Minister. I invite you all to use it, promote it within your communities and help us improve it continuously.
Thank you for your participation and attention.