Inter-municipal cooperation, a good opportunity for integrated planning and better local governance

The Kosovo Local Government Institute (KLGI) and the OSCE, in support of the Ministry of Local Government Administration (MLGA), have concluded a series of trainings with the regions of Kosovo’s municipalities on the topic “Initiatives for Inter-Municipal Cooperation”.

The trainings were held over five days in the regions of Prizren, Peja, Prishtina, Gjilan and Mitrovica, and aimed to examine the opportunities that inter-municipal cooperation offers municipalities in achieving common goals and interests.

During the trainings, participants worked in groups to examine and discuss the forms and procedures of inter-municipal cooperation. They also discussed the legal basis and looked at good models from the region and from developed countries.

Participants expressed interest in and readiness to cooperate on joint projects that help improve citizens’ lives and raise the quality of services.

Inter-municipal cooperation is based on the free will of municipalities to establish cooperative relationships, sharing roles and municipal resources for the needs of the cooperation. Above all, inter-municipal cooperation is very important for providing efficient services that raise citizens’ quality of life and collective well-being.

Inter-municipal cooperation is therefore a good opportunity for integrated planning, more inclusive service delivery, better local governance, wider access to a broader range of skills, and local and regional socio-economic development.

KLGI is dedicated to analyses and studies that contribute to effective local governance practices in Kosovo. Through its educational programmes, it also works on building the capacities of the country’s municipalities.

The activity was carried out within the framework of the programme ‘Dialogue for European Municipalities’ (DEM), supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kosovo.