Kosovo must review decentralisation

The Kosovo Local Government Institute (KLGI) and the London-based Institute for Local Democracy and Information (LGiU), England, on Wednesday and Thursday held a series of visits to central and local institutions in Kosovo and Macedonia to learn about the successes and challenges of local governance. The Kosovo Local Government Institute was represented by Mr Besnik Tahiri, Executive Director of KLGI. The representatives of LGiU were Mr Jonathan Carr-West, Executive Director of the Institute, and Mr Andy Johnston, Head of Operations.

During their stay in Macedonia, the heads of the two institutes, KLGI and LGiU, first met the Minister of Local Self-Government of the Republic of Macedonia, Ms Shiret Elezi, with whom they discussed issues at local level. At this meeting the representatives learned about the successes and challenges the Republic of Macedonia faces in this field, and this served as a good opportunity for better cooperation on both sides to improve governance and strengthen the local level.

On the same day (Wednesday), the heads of KLGI and LGiU continued with their next meeting at the Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia, where they were received by Ms Dusica Perisic, Executive Director of ZELS. After returning from Macedonia, they visited the Municipality of Hani i Elezit, where they were received by the head of this municipality, Rufki Suma.

On Thursday the two institutes, KLGI and LGiU, continued their meetings at central and local institutions in Kosovo. First they visited the Ministry of Local Government Administration (MLGA), where they met Rozafa Ukimeraj, Acting Secretary General.

Ukimeraj said that territorial reforms should be carried out, as is also being done with the law on Prishtina, so that ideas can be developed. The main challenge to proper functionality is linked to fiscal decentralisation. Furthermore, the main areas that need support at local level are strategic planning and project management.

During the day they also continued their visit to the Municipality of Prishtina, where they were received by the Mayor, Mr Shpend Ahmeti. Mayor Ahmeti said that mayors are powerful and have authority as individuals, but local governments in Kosovo are not really powerful in terms of independence from the central level. He said that the main challenge in the capital now is the Law on Prishtina.

The meetings also continued with two mayors, that of the Municipality of Gjilan, Mr Lutfi Haziri, and that of the Municipality of Kamenica, Mr Begzad Sinani. During the meeting with the Mayor of Gjilan, Mr Lutfi Haziri, local government reforms, the legislature, public transformation and decentralisation were discussed.

It should be noted that on Thursday the Kosovo Local Government Institute (KLGI) and the London-based Institute for Local Democracy and Information (LGiU) signed a memorandum of cooperation for a strategic partnership. The aim of the memorandum is for the KLGI and LGiU Institutes to continue and deepen their cooperation in future to improve governance and strengthen the local level.