Kosovo and Albania have many experiences to exchange with a focus on strengthening the local level

At the invitation of the Director of the Agency for the Support of Local Self-Government, Mr Bekim Murati, and as part of the support for improving local-level funding policies, the Director of the Budget Department at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Salvador Elmazi, and the Director of the KLGI Institute, Mr Besnik Muçaj, took part in the meeting of the Consultative Council between the government and the local level.

Speakers at this event included the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Albania, Mr Arben Ahmetaj, the Deputy Minister of Interior, Ms Romina Kuko, and mayors from the Republic of Albania. The Director of the Budget Department at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Salvador Elmazi, gave welcoming remarks at the event, highlighting the particular importance of the meeting given that it focused on three draft laws affecting local finance: “On the Local Budget 2019”, “On the Local Tax System” and “On the Improvement of Business Zones”.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Kuko praised the commitment of Kosovo's institutions to the reforms undertaken, as well as the contribution of the KLGI Institute for its professional role in increasing communication and interaction between the two countries. The need to deepen communication and the exchange of experiences in the interest of improving policies and legislation affecting local government funding was also stressed.

This meeting was a good opportunity to advance the joint agenda in the interest of reforms and to strengthen cooperation at all levels on the path of the respective countries and the whole region towards integration processes.