International Conference on Local Government Inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation Ministry of Local Government Administration Pristine, 6-7 May 2010 Samet Dalipi Samet Dalipi Republika e Kosov ë s Republika Kosova-Republic of Kosovo Qeveria - Vlada – Government Ministria e Administrimit t ë Pushtetit Lokal Ministarstvo Administracije Lokalne Samouprave Ministry of Local Government Administration

Legislation Inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation is regulated with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo (article 124) and with the Law on Local Self-Government. Inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation is regulated with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo (article 124) and with the Law on Local Self-Government. The fifth objective of the Middle-Term Strategy of the MLGA work aims that among the others, the inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation also shall contribute to the continuous increase of the quality of public services. The fifth objective of the Middle-Term Strategy of the MLGA work aims that among the others, the inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation also shall contribute to the continuous increase of the quality of public services. The bases of this cooperation are set out in the comprehensible status proposal of Kosovo by Martti Ahtsaari. The bases of this cooperation are set out in the comprehensible status proposal of Kosovo by Martti Ahtsaari.

Inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation – a new practice for Kosovo Usage of the experiences of the EU countries in this field is a potential which Kosovo should use rationally. Usage of the experiences of the EU countries in this field is a potential which Kosovo should use rationally. Kosovo, as a small country should be oriented toward policies for an regional balanced economic development, through not concentrating only in one urban area such as Prishtina. Kosovo, as a small country should be oriented toward policies for an regional balanced economic development, through not concentrating only in one urban area such as Prishtina. Kosovo needs support from ECLO and partners in the implementation of regional development policies to accelerate the integration process in EU. Kosovo needs support from ECLO and partners in the implementation of regional development policies to accelerate the integration process in EU. Socio-economic development policies accelerate the process of compliance and citizens inclusion in decision- taking. Socio-economic development policies accelerate the process of compliance and citizens inclusion in decision- taking.

Inter-municipal cooperation Inter-municipal cooperation is a necessity of the activity of municipalities which as alone (small) cannot afford the cost of qualitative services provided towards citizens. Inter-municipal cooperation is a necessity of the activity of municipalities which as alone (small) cannot afford the cost of qualitative services provided towards citizens. Inter-municipal cooperation in Kosovo mainly consist in municipal services provision (potable water, sewage, transport, road infrastructure, emergency services) and in education, culture, sport, environment protection… Inter-municipal cooperation in Kosovo mainly consist in municipal services provision (potable water, sewage, transport, road infrastructure, emergency services) and in education, culture, sport, environment protection…

Inter-municipal cooperation A huge number of municipal competences may be exercised also in municipality-municipality partnership, with their budgetary participation in citizens’ interest. A huge number of municipal competences may be exercised also in municipality-municipality partnership, with their budgetary participation in citizens’ interest. There has not been any case until now of any initiative of inter-municipal cooperation, apart from those cases of social enterprises, whose boards are compound also from the appointed representatives from municipalities, managed from former-KTA and in cases of projects realized by donors. There has not been any case until now of any initiative of inter-municipal cooperation, apart from those cases of social enterprises, whose boards are compound also from the appointed representatives from municipalities, managed from former-KTA and in cases of projects realized by donors.

Inter-municipal cooperation There are established and functioning 5 Regional Development Agencies, RDA (Pristine, Peja, Prizren, Gjilan and Mitrovica) which have each 5 professional people in the personnel; There are established and functioning 5 Regional Development Agencies, RDA (Pristine, Peja, Prizren, Gjilan and Mitrovica) which have each 5 professional people in the personnel; RDAs have the statute of non-governmental organizations whereas they are managed from the Boards consisting of the member Mayors; RDAs have the statute of non-governmental organizations whereas they are managed from the Boards consisting of the member Mayors; The role of RDAs is that in partnership with businesses and other relevant stakeholders to stimulate the regional development (e.g. there are five regional strategies being developed in cooperation and participation of businesses, institutes, municipalities… The role of RDAs is that in partnership with businesses and other relevant stakeholders to stimulate the regional development (e.g. there are five regional strategies being developed in cooperation and participation of businesses, institutes, municipalities…

Map of the economic development regions of Kosovo Map of the economic development regions of Kosovo

Inter-municipal cooperation The role of RDAs is that in partnership with businesses and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate the regional development in partnership with businesses, institutes, municipalities, civil society. The role of RDAs is that in partnership with businesses and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate the regional development in partnership with businesses, institutes, municipalities, civil society. The aims are that: To assist the economic development of Kosovo with a regional approach; To assist the economic development of Kosovo with a regional approach; To support and assist the aspiration of Kosovo for membership in EU; and To support and assist the aspiration of Kosovo for membership in EU; and To create an appropriate framework where different communities in Kosovo shall cooperate for a development and increase of their life quality. To create an appropriate framework where different communities in Kosovo shall cooperate for a development and increase of their life quality.

Cross-border cooperation Municipalities have the right to sign cooperation memorandums with self-government bodies of other countries in the field of their competences, apart from a number of competences which cannot delegate as foreseen by the law. Municipalities have the right to sign cooperation memorandums with self-government bodies of other countries in the field of their competences, apart from a number of competences which cannot delegate as foreseen by the law. A window of cross-border cooperation between Kosovo and its neighbors is open through the Component II – Cross-border cooperation of IPA (Instrument of Pre-Adhering) in order of the support of candidate and those potential candidate countries to be part of EU. A window of cross-border cooperation between Kosovo and its neighbors is open through the Component II – Cross-border cooperation of IPA (Instrument of Pre-Adhering) in order of the support of candidate and those potential candidate countries to be part of EU. Kosovo was included in these initiatives of cooperation (ECLO- MLGA) during 2008 and until now the cooperation programs with Albania and Macedonia are ready to be submitted, whereas with Montenegro will be realized during next year. Kosovo was included in these initiatives of cooperation (ECLO- MLGA) during 2008 and until now the cooperation programs with Albania and Macedonia are ready to be submitted, whereas with Montenegro will be realized during next year. We will work so that we will do this with our northern neighbor, Serbia. We will work so that we will do this with our northern neighbor, Serbia.

Cross-border cooperation The main achievements of the Programs of Cross-Border Cooperation until May 2010: Institutional structures dealing with Programs of CBC are established and the contacts with Operational Structures of three neighboring countries were set. Institutional structures dealing with Programs of CBC are established and the contacts with Operational Structures of three neighboring countries were set. Two programs of CBC are prepared, Kosovo-Albania and Kosovo-Macedonia and are ready to be submitted to the authorities of EC. Two programs of CBC are prepared, Kosovo-Albania and Kosovo-Macedonia and are ready to be submitted to the authorities of EC. MLGA officials are trained regarding the CBC process under the IPA funding. MLGA officials are trained regarding the CBC process under the IPA funding. Training activities were held also in the awareness of more than 80 officials of different ministries, other central agencies, Regional Development Agencies (RDA) and other local authorities on the CBC framework and Kosovo possibilities. Training activities were held also in the awareness of more than 80 officials of different ministries, other central agencies, Regional Development Agencies (RDA) and other local authorities on the CBC framework and Kosovo possibilities. Support on the training of 25 employees of RDAs and mentoring provided for local authorities on the preparation of draft-proposals for participation in the grand scheme for call of proposals funded by EC in the regional development. Support on the training of 25 employees of RDAs and mentoring provided for local authorities on the preparation of draft-proposals for participation in the grand scheme for call of proposals funded by EC in the regional development.

Cross-border cooperation This is a good chance for the stimulation of cooperation of boundary regions in the fields of economic development, environment protection, social cohesion, tourism, civil society etc. This is a good chance for the stimulation of cooperation of boundary regions in the fields of economic development, environment protection, social cohesion, tourism, civil society etc. Cross-border cooperation will replace the iron curtains set by the former non-democratic regimes in Balkans. Cross-border cooperation will replace the iron curtains set by the former non-democratic regimes in Balkans. Kosovo will work with the other countries to create synergy towards the cohesive development of the region and will be a sample in this aspect. Kosovo will work with the other countries to create synergy towards the cohesive development of the region and will be a sample in this aspect.

Cross-border cooperation Twinning of municipalities of Kosovo with municipalities and city abroad A considerable number of municipalities of Kosovo are twinning with municipalities or cities of EU, Albania, Turkey… A considerable number of municipalities of Kosovo are twinning with municipalities or cities of EU, Albania, Turkey… Their cooperation is on different fields, mainly in culture, education, sport and environment and infrastructural support. Their cooperation is on different fields, mainly in culture, education, sport and environment and infrastructural support. It is worth stressing the Municipality of Gjilan which has a good cooperation with the region municipalities with which is bounded and wider. It is worth stressing the Municipality of Gjilan which has a good cooperation with the region municipalities with which is bounded and wider.

Regional cooperation Regional Development is among the most important policies of EU and one of the Chapters on the negotiation phase for membership in EU, thus it has importance and relevance for the future developments in Kosovo. Regional Development is among the most important policies of EU and one of the Chapters on the negotiation phase for membership in EU, thus it has importance and relevance for the future developments in Kosovo. Regional Development as an agenda is closely related with the issues having to do with Plans and Strategies on National Development and it is interrelated with the coordination of inter- sectional and inter-ministerial policies addressing development in regional and local levels. Regional Development as an agenda is closely related with the issues having to do with Plans and Strategies on National Development and it is interrelated with the coordination of inter- sectional and inter-ministerial policies addressing development in regional and local levels.

Issues to be addressed Cooperation between municipalities of Kosovo with the purpose of rationalization of budgetary expenditures. Cooperation between municipalities of Kosovo with the purpose of rationalization of budgetary expenditures. Intensification of forms of cooperation between municipalities of Kosovo with those abroad. Intensification of forms of cooperation between municipalities of Kosovo with those abroad. Building of institutional and those human mechanisms for equilibrate regional development in Kosovo. Building of institutional and those human mechanisms for equilibrate regional development in Kosovo. Building of the national and harmonized development policy (strategy) with the needs and possibilities of regional development. Building of the national and harmonized development policy (strategy) with the needs and possibilities of regional development. Harmonization of development policies with those of EU Harmonization of development policies with those of EU

Perspective Perspective The countries of western Balkans have the same solutions, common aspirations towards the integrations to EU. The countries of western Balkans have the same solutions, common aspirations towards the integrations to EU. Kosovo needs support and it is ready to face the integration challenges. Kosovo needs support and it is ready to face the integration challenges. Thank you! Thank you!