Ministry of Local Government has organized a meeting with Mayors of municipalities of Kosovo, in order to present the report on the work of MLGA (2005-2010). 27 January 2011
Ministry of Local Government has organized a meeting with Mayors of municipalities of Kosovo, in order to present the report on the work of MLGA (2005-2010). In this meeting, it was also discussed about the topics related to central and local level, such as: beginning of budget expenditure in municipalities, capital investments, co-financing projects with MLGA for municipalities and the establishment of Commissions for Missing Persons at the local level.
The participants were welcomed by Raif Elezi, Deputy Minister of Local Government Administration, who also stressed the importance of this meeting, which according to him marks the beginning of cooperation in 2011.
"Strengthening local governance structures in order to provide services closer to citizens represent the main objective of the Ministry of Local Government also in 2011”, Mr. Elezi said. In this context, MLGA has also set its main objectives to be achieved this year: completion of legal basis, according to the spirit of the European Charter for Local Self-Government, local government reform aimed at increasing local autonomy; advancement of Municipal cooperation, increase efficiency of municipal services and development of managerial and professional capacities of municipal officials".
In addition, Besnik Osmani, General Secretary of MLGA emphasized the importance of the meeting with mayors and further cooperation for the implementation of the important reforms required from the new legislation and in the projects compilation for the improvement of life conditions of the Kosovo citizens and on this occasion Mr. Osmani did a short summary of the 5 years work of the Ministry of Local Government Administration.
"The points-objectives within the 5 years strategic document have been: election reform in the municipal level and as a consequence we have made changes in the election system, then we have had an obligation to sponsor, write and make necessary changes in the legislation regulating the local level. Within this framework we have done the fiscal decentralization and this activity has completed. The third issue is the establishment of new municipalities foreseen with the Ahtisaari Package. Then, the final regulation of municipal administrative boundaries which is being implemented. Creation of an electronic administration through a powerful software where all the municipalities will be connected to the network and where the digitalization of the municipal activities will be done" – said Besnik Osmani, General Secretary of MLGA.
At this meeting as important point was even the beginning of the work of the European Commission project "Twinning” that is a joint project of Great Britain and Denmark. Related to this Mr. Alan Packer from European Commission said:
"This collaboration is funded by the IPA and is named as "twinning". In this case, the United Kingdom and Denmark are partners with Kosovo. From these three countries were selected competent people and a representative from the Ministry, in order to ensure that everything will go well, during implementation of the project”.
According to the middle- term Labor Strategy of the Local Government Ministry, 2009-2012, mission of MLGA is "advancement of the local government, in cooperation with elected structures and municipal officials, to provide effective services in relation to citizens”. Under this strategy, the main objectives for the work of Ministry during these years are: local government reforming and comprehensive and functional Decentralization in the Republic of Kosovo; fiscal Decentralization, as well as the local economic development balanced, capacity building for modern management, professional administration and right management with municipalities; the increase of citizens in decision-making and policy making in the local level; continual growth of the quality of the public services through inter-municipal cooperation, trans- boundary and regional cooperation of municipalities with the aim of achieving European Standards.