The integration process must be accelerated by strengthening the foundations of local governance

At the invitation of the EU-funded project “Municipalities for Europe”, representatives of the KLGI Institute took part in the working conference Municipalities in Albania's Integration Process.

Presenting at the conference were the EU Ambassador in Tirana, Romana Vlahutin, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs responsible for Local Government, Ms Romina Kuko, representatives of local government associations, Mayors of Municipalities (Bashkis) and experts from the EU delegation. Also present at this event was the Secretary General of the Ministry of Local Government Administration, and together we had the opportunity to exchange information and present the example of Kosovo.

Opening the presentation, in comparing progress across the region, Ambassador Vlahutin mentioned Kosovo as an example of success in the overall revenue collected by the local level, as well as in the investments made at this level. She also mentioned the overall economic potential, where the local level in Kosovo stands better than in some countries in the region. Ambassador Vlahutin's message was that EU representatives should go out into the field, since Albania is not only Tirana.

After the keynote speakers, the main findings of the first national assessment measuring the performance of local government in the context of the European integration process were presented. Unlike Albania, Kosovo has achieved a high degree of consolidation in performance assessment, with the support of partners such as SDC, USAID and DEMOS.

The conference was divided into three working panels: i) Fiscal Decentralisation; ii) Delivery of Social Services; and iii) Governance and Rule of Law Issues. Representatives of the KLGI Institute took part in all three panels, where they had the opportunity to learn from the mentorship of European experts and the challenges presented by the municipalities, and at the same time to present the perspective in these fields in Kosovo.

At this event, the Acting Executive Director, Mr Besnik Muçaj, had the opportunity to discuss with the managers of the ‘Municipalities in the EU’ project the models and results this project has brought. Particular interest was placed on strengthening the capacities of the local level to absorb development funds.

This activity of the KLGI Institute is taking place within the framework of joint regional engagements for the exchange of information and the strengthening of communication in the field of local governance. In the coming weeks the KLGI Institute will hold dedicated meetings in Macedonia focusing on the issue of inter-municipal cooperation.