Public Administration, a key mechanism in the development of municipalities

The Kosovo Local Government Institute (KLGI) today held a training session and working visit in the town of Vushtrri, which addressed the “Challenges of Municipal Administration in View of Public Administration Reform”, focusing on the Package of Public Administration Laws, which includes the Law on State Administration, the Law on Public Officials and the Law on Salaries, as well as the steps that lie ahead.

The effect the Package of Public Administration Laws will have on the functioning of Municipal Administration in delivering services to citizens was highlighted.

Participants in this training session were municipal officials, directors and municipal councillors from seven (7) municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo (Mitrovica, Vushtrri, Drenas, Klina, Podujeva, Kamenica and Partesh). The participants gained knowledge and practices, as well as ways of eliminating barriers in the functioning of the municipal administration under the new package of these laws.

The session was opened by the Executive Director of the KLGI Institute, Mr Besnik Muçaj, who emphasised the establishment of clear rules for the entire public administration system through the package of these laws. Above all, he stressed that this ensures and establishes uniform criteria and rules of internal organisation for all bodies of the municipal administration.

The Deputy Mayor of the Municipality, Mr Besim Muzaqi, as host, received the representatives of the municipalities and thanked them for visiting the Municipality of Vushtrri. The Director for Culture, Youth and Sport in the Municipality of Vushtrri, Ms Fatmire Cecelia, presented the work undertaken to use heritage for local economic development. Meanwhile, the Director of Procurement, Ms Saranda Cakaj, presented the projects the Municipality of Vushtrri has launched to improve infrastructure and services.

As part of the module, the Director of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Public Administration, Mr Naser Shamolli, spoke about the functioning of the Package of Laws in Municipal Administration and their impact on the delivery of public services to citizens.

The Law on Public Officials aims to establish a legal framework for the employment of public officials in institutions on the basis of merit, moral integrity, impartiality and sustainability. This draft law regulates the employment relationship of public officials, with the exception of officials with special public status.

Meanwhile, the Draft Law on Salaries sets out the system of salaries and remuneration for public officials and office-holders, as well as the rules for determining the salaries of employees of public enterprises in Kosovo. This draft law creates a uniform salary system for all employees in the public sector by setting rules for determining salaries and their components, as well as the competence for determining them.

The Draft Law on State Administration sets out the rules for the organisation and functioning of the state administration and of independent agencies established by the Assembly of Kosovo. The purpose of this draft law is to create a coherent legal framework for their establishment, management, functioning, accountability and performance.

The session continued with participants visiting cultural and historical heritage sites in the town of Vushtrri.

This activity is carried out within the project “Support for Strong and Sustainable Municipalities (SSSM)”, funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kosovo.