40 candidates certified by the Local Governance Academy

Those certified are part of the sixth generation, which addressed the importance of local democracy – processes and practices – and supporting and advancing the principles of representation, participation and accountability to citizens.

The sixth generation of the Local Governance Academy programme included participants from five municipalities (Prishtina, Suhareka, Dragash, Mamusha and Kllokot), the Ministry of Local Government Administration, representatives of independent public institutions (the Auditor General) and civil society.

KLGI’s Executive Director, Besnik Tahiri, said that those certified have work ahead of them, as they face processes that have not been properly defined, and he mentioned the decentralisation of municipalities. “As a state we have suffered from decentralisation for 10 years now; this does not mean revisiting the areas, but local governments must take stock. It makes no sense not to do more for municipalities,” said Tahiri.

He noted that decentralisation is strong on paper but not in practice. He reiterated that Prishtina does not represent Kosovo and that the law on Prishtina should be passed. Tahiri said that northern Mitrovica must be integrated so that the hand of the state is felt. Regarding local finances, Tahiri said they had good cooperation with the former Minister of Finance, Avdullah Hoti.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian Ambassador to Kosovo, Per Strand Sjaastad, said that KLGI’s activities are of high quality. “I will do the impossible for Norway to support Besnik and KLGI. Local governance is very important, as the world has become a strange and large place.” Ambassador Sjaastad also spoke about cooperation between municipalities, which in his view is indispensable.

The director of the FES foundation, Frank Hankte, said that what matters most is to talk about people’s common interest and the interests that affect everyone’s well-being.

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Local Government Administration, Rozafa Ukimëraj, said that problems and challenges are many, but there have been improvements. “Since 2014 we have made progress. There are no compromises with the law. Communication has increased, as has support from the European Commission. Municipalities need to be more transparent,” she said.

The Local Governance Academy is an educational programme, based on nine years of studies carried out, for strengthening local democracy, participation and, in particular, the representation of public interests in local government by decision-makers in municipal assemblies and executive bodies.