The largest forum of local authorities in the Western Balkans is launched

Through a regional conference attended by central and local authorities, international organisations and civil society, the Kosovo Local Government Institute (KLGI) launched the platform of the ‘Regional Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation’. The KLGI Institute aims to increase cooperation and dialogue between local authorities in the region.

Opening the conference, the Executive Director of the KLGI Institute, Valmir Gashi, stressed that the forum aims to extend dialogue, cooperation and communication to strengthening the development and European integration agenda; to exchanging information, knowledge, practices and models in reform and European integration processes; and to identifying and encouraging cooperation in programmes and access to development funds.

The Minister of Local Government Administration, Elbert Krasniqi, explained the MLGA’s vision for advancing local governance.

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Jens Erik Grøndahl, supporting this initiative, stressed the importance of strengthening and supporting the strategic structure of local governance.

In the first panel, on the topic “Local governance in national agendas”, the two First Deputy Prime Ministers of the Republic of Kosovo and of North Macedonia, Besnik Bislimi and Artan Grubi, gave presentations.

The First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, presented the central government’s vision for strengthening the local level, with the aim of implementing projects that contribute to sustainable development and to improving citizens’ lives.

The First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Artan Grubi, stressed that such meetings are a good opportunity to evaluate the work done so far in this direction and to exchange institutional experience on these dynamic processes.

In the second panel, on the topic “Local authorities in the region, initiatives and the European integration process”, the speakers were: the Programme Coordinator at the KLGI Institute, Sadri Rrmoku; the Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Administration, Venera Çerkini; the Mayor of Lezha, Pjerin Ndreu; the Executive Director of the Union of Albanian Municipalities in the Region, Andriola Kambo; the Executive Director of the Association of Kosovo Municipalities, Sazan Ibrahimi; and the Deputy Mayor of Presheva, Ragmi Mustafa.

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