A review of decentralisation requires national consensus

The Kosovo Local Government Institute (KLGI) and the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU), based in London, United Kingdom, today (Thursday) held a conference at Sheshi 21 entitled “The Need to Review Decentralisation in Kosovo”.

The conference addressed the following dimensions and approaches: Why should decentralisation in Kosovo be reviewed? What are the challenges and prospects of local governance in Kosovo? How far has the reform process come and what is the way forward? What is the political view of decentralisation in Kosovo? How has decentralisation unfolded? Should it be reviewed in Kosovo?

During the event, it was concluded that decentralisation has a political dimension and must be reviewed in many respects: the fiscal and financial aspect of municipal power should be reviewed, the criteria for capital investment made by line ministries should be reviewed, and the aspect of public enterprises should be reviewed, since there is no accountability, along with many other areas that directly affect citizens’ lives.

Particular emphasis was placed on the establishment of new municipalities, the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities, the issue of indicted mayors, the relationship between the mayor and the municipal assembly, the creation of a formula to analyse activities at local level, the clarification of competences, and the political drive behind this decentralisation process.

Based on the above aspects, it was concluded that there is a need to review the decentralisation process as a whole and to take measures to improve the situation we now face.

The Executive Director of the Kosovo Local Government Institute, Mr Besnik Tahiri, said they were presenting a first draft in order to address the challenges, opportunities and difficulties facing the local level of government. He stressed that decentralisation is never technical but political, since results in a municipality are the results of a state.

“The aspect of public enterprises must be reviewed, since there is no accountability; the criteria for capital investment made by line ministries must be reviewed; the fiscal and financial aspect of municipal power must be reviewed. The mayor is strong on paper but weak in operational terms,” said Tahiri. Regarding the establishment of new municipalities, Mr Tahiri stressed that Kosovo does not need more municipalities.

For his part, Mr Jonathan Carr-West, Executive Director of LGiU, said this is a very important analysis with good recommendations. In his view, local government matters because people live in a world where they face numerous and complex challenges.

“All areas such as education and health are better managed at local level. The state alone cannot solve the problems. We need agencies with people from the local level who have control, and that is why there must be a functional programme of decentralisation,” said Carr-West.

Bajram Gecaj, Deputy Minister of Local Government, stressed that Kosovo emerged from the war completely devastated, including its political system. Local government required a complete redesign.

“Initially, laws and regulations were issued to improve various matters. Advanced elements were put in place, but they were not adapted to the circumstances of the time. In 2008 a redesign of local government began to be formulated based on the Ahtisaari agreement,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Glauk Konjufca, Mr Lutfi Haziri and Mr Agim Bahtiri gave presentations on the political aspect of the decentralisation process.

At the event, the publication entitled “The Need to Review Decentralisation in Kosovo” was presented by Mr Besnik Tahiri, Executive Director of the Kosovo Local Government Institute. This was followed by keynote speeches from the event’s guests, beginning with Mr Jonathan Carr-West, Executive Director of LGiU; Mr Bajram Gecaj, Deputy Minister of the MLGA; Mr Naim Ismajli, Mayor of Shtime; Ms Besa Luzha, Executive Director of FES; Mr Lutfi Haziri, Mayor of Gjilan; Mr Glauk Konjufca, Member of the Kosovo Parliament; and Mr Agim Bahtiri, Mayor of Mitrovica.

Other participants in the event included media representatives, officials of the Ministry of Local Government Administration, mayors, representatives of the diplomatic corps in Kosovo, representatives of local and central government, local and international organisations, various donors and other distinguished guests.