AKM has an important mandate and role in empowering municipalities

The Executive Director of the KLGI Institute, Mr Besnik Tahiri, and the Programme Manager, Mr Besnik Muçaj, visited the Municipality of Shtime, where they were received by the mayor, Mr Naim Ismajli, who is also chair of the Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKM), and by the municipality’s Director of Administration, Mr Ekrem Reçica.

The meeting discussed the municipality’s engagements in general terms, focusing in particular on important issues affecting the functioning of municipalities, with emphasis on those related to sustainable financing.

Mr Tahiri informed Mayor Ismajli about the KLGI Institute’s engagement in supporting the drafting process of the Law on Local Government Finance, stressing that the KLGI Institute considers continuous consultation with AKM in this process a key aspect, bearing in mind the institution’s mandate to represent municipalities.

Mayor Ismajli set out AKM’s position on this process, stressing that consultation processes have not always been proactive and cohesive. Beyond this, he stressed that AKM will continue to address, represent and advocate for the interests of municipalities.

Mr Tahiri stressed that he and the KLGI Institute will remain committed to ensuring that, within the mandate of supporting the process, with an emphasis on inclusiveness in consultations, AKM will play a key role, noting that “at every step we will inform AKM and seek its support”. This applies in particular to the issues awaiting joint resolution, by finding ways to advance the process.