The Ministry of Local Government Administration in cooperation with the EU Office in Kosovo, Switzerland, Sweden and Norway have allocated around 8 million Euros for the Municipal Performance Grant (MPG). This grant was awarded to the 11 municipalities with the best performance, according to a system of indicators distributed in three main areas: democratic governance, municipal management and the provision of public services.
The municipalities that were awarded are: Rahovec, Obiliq, Skenderaj, Suhareka, Peja, Kaçanik, Shtime, Malisheva, Dragash, Ranillug and Partesh. Through this grant, municipalities will invest in capital projects that will improve the lives of citizens.
The first Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Kosovo, Mr. Besnik Bislimi, in his speech emphasized the importance of raising the quality of the public administration, which must be open, transparent and accountable.
“Public administration reform is a government priority. The practices of the states in Europe have proven that an efficient, modern, transparent and accountable public administration is the key to all other reforms”.
The Minister of Local Government Administration, Mr. Elbert Krasniqi emphasized that the Municipal Performance Grant is an instrument of the Government, which supports municipalities financially, based on the principle of merit, and ranks them on an annual basis, according to their performance.
“The Performance Grant Ceremony is the conclusion of a process that includes reporting, control and evaluation, always objective, transparent and impartial. Through this grant, we intend to support projects that are based on increasing the quality of life of citizens, such as the addition of green spaces, the regulation of riverbeds or the reduction of spaces with waste.”
The EU Ambassador in Kosovo, Mr. Tomáš Szunyog, has congratulated the beneficiary municipalities of the Municipal Performance Grant, emphasizing the European Union’s support for local governance.
“The EU is extremely proud to be part of this innovative mechanism that boosts municipal performance and brings citizens closer to their local administrations. Improving the efficiency of Kosovo’s municipalities is a key aspect of good governance. Public administration that is accountable, transparent and well-functioning improves the lives of citizens and contributes to their well-being,” said Mr. Szunyog.
The Ambassador of Switzerland in Kosovo, Jürg Sprecher emphasized that the impact of the Municipal Performance Grant on the beneficiary municipalities is obvious, as he appreciated the cooperation and commitment of all parties for the success of this Grant.
“We appreciate and congratulate the tireless work and dedication of municipal officials, mayors, directors and members of Municipal Assemblies. This commitment not only increases the performance of municipalities, but also strengthens local democratic governance, improves the quality of life for citizens and increases citizen satisfaction”.
The Deputy Ambassador of Sweden, Mr. Henrik Riby, in his speech emphasized the importance of engaging citizens in the decision-making processes in Kosovo, to better respond to the needs of citizens, especially marginalized groups.
“Sweden highly values building trust between institutions and citizens, as it is essential for a strong democratic culture. Democracy truly succeeds when citizens participate actively. The Ministry together with the mayors and their teams are like architects, who turn ideas into tangible results for their citizens. It is imperative that citizens become decision-makers in the process of choosing projects that directly affect their lives”, emphasized Mr. Riby.
The Municipal Performance Grant is financed by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo in cooperation with DEMOS to support municipalities in municipal projects. From 2014 to 2023, grants in total amount of 33.5 million euros were given to 33 out of 38 municipalities. These grants have financed 430 projects, positively influencing the lives of one million citizens.
