The Ministry of Local Government Administration in cooperation with the OSCE have continued to promote the Strategy on Local Self-Government in the Pejë/Peć region with representatives of the municipalities of Gjakovë/Djakovo, Pejë/Peć, Deqan/Dečani, Istog/Istok, Klinë/Klina and Junik. 26 April 2016
The Ministry of Local Government Administration in cooperation with the OSCE have continued to promote the Strategy on Local Self-Government in the Pejë/Peć region with representatives of the municipalities of Gjakovë/Djakovo, Pejë/Peć, Deqan/Dečani, Istog/Istok, Klinë/Klina and Junik.
The representatives of MLGA and OSCE have presented the strategic orientations of local government for the next ten years, i.e. obligations that central and local institutions will have during the implementation of this document in a joint discussion with mayors, civil society, media and businesses.
Deputy Minister BajramGecaj said that municipalities have achieved progress in terms of fulfilling their legal constitutional mandate in relation to citizens, however, many challenges still remain. Deputy Minister Gecaj said that despite the fact that Law on Local Self-Government grants powers to municipalities, municipalities have faced difficulties in the political, legal, systemic, organizational, territorial, economic, financial, administrative aspect including property and other issues. “The Government of the Republic of Kosovo has established strategic orientations for local self-government. Our aim is to transform the existing system of local self-government and the relationship between central and local government in the service of the integral functioning of our state structure through the approval of the Strategy on Local Self-Government, in accordance with standards of European integration process” Deputy Minister Gecaj said.
The objectives of this strategy are also linked with some of the priorities or objectives of the work programme of the Government, such as: sustainable economic development, employment and welfare, the rule of law and the objectives set in the National Plan for Development said Mr. Gecaj.
The Acting General Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Administration said that the basis of the Strategy on Local Self-Government (2016-2026) was set forth with the main purpose of increasing the quality of municipal services and improving the quality of citizens’ life. One of the main objectives of the Strategy will be local economic development and strengthening of professional capacities of local government bodies to meet the demands of citizens and achieve sustainable improvement of services delivered to citizens, said Ms. Ukimeraj.
During her presentation, Ms. Ukimeraj, stressed that one of the important objectives of the Strategy is to promote the values of heritage and cultural, environmental and social diversity in order to achieve social, economic and cultural development in municipalities while special attention will be paid to strengthening partnerships between local government, civil society and businesses in order to create an active, comprehensive and cohesive citizenship. Another important objective of the strategy for the next ten years will be to create a good governance framework to ensure democratic representation of citizens and efficient administration at the municipal level, said Ms. Ukimeraj.
Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ms. PaiviNikander, said that the OSCE mission in Kosovo will support the implementation of the Strategy on Local Self-Government, which is based on development objectives that simultaneously promotes transparency, comprehensiveness, non-discrimination and other aspects of development at the local level.
Mayor of the Municipality of Pejë/Peć, Mr. GazmendMuhaxhiri said that the Strategy on Local Self-Government 2016-2026, will assist municipalities in achieving development objectives, in particular in the field of local economic development.
Following the promotion of the Strategy on Local Self-Government in the region of Prizren, Gjilan/Gnjilane, Mitrovicë/Mitrovica, Pejë/Peć, the concluding promotion of the Strategy will be held in the region of Prishtinë/Priština.