International Conference on Local International Conference on Local GovernmentGovernment

Inter-municipal and cross-border Inter-municipal and cross-border cooperationcooperation

Ministry of Local Government AdministrationMinistry of Local Government Administration

Pristine, 6-7 May 2010Pristine, 6-7 May 2010

Samet DalipiSamet Dalipi

Republika e KosovësRepublika Kosova-Republic of Kosovo

Qeveria - Vlada – Government

Ministria e Administrimit të Pushtetit LokalMinistarstvo Administracije Lokalne Samouprave

Ministry of Local Government Administration

LegislationLegislation

• Inter-municipal and cross-border Inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation is regulated with the cooperation is regulated with the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo (article 124) and with the Law on Local (article 124) and with the Law on Local Self-Government. Self-Government.

• The fifth objective of the Middle-Term The fifth objective of the Middle-Term Strategy of the MLGA work 2009-2012 Strategy of the MLGA work 2009-2012 aims that among the others, the inter-aims that among the others, the inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation municipal and cross-border cooperation also shall contribute to the continuous also shall contribute to the continuous increase of the quality of public services.increase of the quality of public services.

• The bases of this cooperation are set out The bases of this cooperation are set out in the comprehensible status proposal of in the comprehensible status proposal of Kosovo by Martti Ahtsaari.Kosovo by Martti Ahtsaari.

Inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation – a Inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation – a new practice for Kosovonew practice for Kosovo

• Usage of the experiences of the EU countries in this Usage of the experiences of the EU countries in this field is a potential which Kosovo should use field is a potential which Kosovo should use rationallyrationally..

• KosovKosovoo,, as a small country should be oriented as a small country should be oriented toward policies for an regional balanced economic toward policies for an regional balanced economic development, through not concentrating only in development, through not concentrating only in one urban area such as Prishtinaone urban area such as Prishtina..

• Kosovo needs support from ECLO and partners in Kosovo needs support from ECLO and partners in the implementation of regional development the implementation of regional development policies to accelerate the integration process in EUpolicies to accelerate the integration process in EU..

• Socio-economic development policies accelerate Socio-economic development policies accelerate the process of compliance and citizens inclusion in the process of compliance and citizens inclusion in decision-takingdecision-taking. .

Inter-municipal cooperationInter-municipal cooperation

• Inter-municipal cooperation is a necessity Inter-municipal cooperation is a necessity of the activity of municipalities which as of the activity of municipalities which as alone (small) cannot afford the cost of alone (small) cannot afford the cost of qualitative services provided towards qualitative services provided towards citizenscitizens..

• Inter-municipal cooperation in Kosovo Inter-municipal cooperation in Kosovo mainly consist in municipal services mainly consist in municipal services provision (potable water, sewage, provision (potable water, sewage, transport, road infrastructure, emergency transport, road infrastructure, emergency services) and in education, culture, sport, services) and in education, culture, sport, environment protection…environment protection…

Inter-municipal cooperationInter-municipal cooperation

• A huge number of municipal competences A huge number of municipal competences may be exercised also in municipality-may be exercised also in municipality-municipality partnership, with their municipality partnership, with their budgetary participation in citizens’ interestbudgetary participation in citizens’ interest..

• There has not been any case until now of There has not been any case until now of any initiative of inter-municipal cooperation, any initiative of inter-municipal cooperation, apart from those cases of social enterprises, apart from those cases of social enterprises, whose boards are compound also from the whose boards are compound also from the appointed representatives from appointed representatives from municipalities, managed from former-KTA municipalities, managed from former-KTA and in cases of projects realized by donors.and in cases of projects realized by donors.

Inter-municipal cooperationInter-municipal cooperation

• There are established and functioning 5 Regional There are established and functioning 5 Regional Development Agencies, RDA (Development Agencies, RDA (Pristine, PejPristine, Pejaa, , Prizren, Gjilan Prizren, Gjilan and and MitrovicMitrovicaa) ) which have each 5 which have each 5 professional people in the personnelprofessional people in the personnel; ;

• RDAs have the statute of non-governmental RDAs have the statute of non-governmental organizations whereas they are managed from organizations whereas they are managed from the Boards consisting of the member Mayorsthe Boards consisting of the member Mayors;;

• The role of RDAs is that in partnership with The role of RDAs is that in partnership with businesses and other relevant stakeholders to businesses and other relevant stakeholders to stimulate the regional development (e.g. there stimulate the regional development (e.g. there are five regional strategies being developed in are five regional strategies being developed in cooperation and participation of businesses, cooperation and participation of businesses, institutes, municipalities…institutes, municipalities…

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

Inter-municipal cooperationInter-municipal cooperation

• The role of RDAs is that in partnership with The role of RDAs is that in partnership with businesses and other relevant stakeholders to businesses and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate the regional development in partnership facilitate the regional development in partnership with businesses, institutes, municipalities, civil with businesses, institutes, municipalities, civil societysociety..

The aims are that:The aims are that: • To assist the economic development of Kosovo To assist the economic development of Kosovo

with a regional approachwith a regional approach; ; • To support and assist the aspiration of Kosovo for To support and assist the aspiration of Kosovo for

membership in EU; andmembership in EU; and• To create an appropriate framework where To create an appropriate framework where

different communities in Kosovo shall cooperate different communities in Kosovo shall cooperate for a development and increase of their life for a development and increase of their life quality.quality.

Cross-border cooperationCross-border cooperation• Municipalities have the right to sign cooperation Municipalities have the right to sign cooperation

memorandums with self-government bodies of other memorandums with self-government bodies of other countries in the field of their competences, apart from a countries in the field of their competences, apart from a number of competences which cannot delegate as foreseen number of competences which cannot delegate as foreseen by the law.by the law.

• A window of cross-border cooperation between Kosovo and its A window of cross-border cooperation between Kosovo and its neighbors is open through the Component II – Cross-border neighbors is open through the Component II – Cross-border cooperation of IPA (Instrument of Pre-Adhering) in order of the cooperation of IPA (Instrument of Pre-Adhering) in order of the support of candidate and those potential candidate countries support of candidate and those potential candidate countries to be part of EU.to be part of EU.

• Kosovo was included in these initiatives of cooperation (ECLO-Kosovo was included in these initiatives of cooperation (ECLO-MLGA) during 2008 and until now the cooperation programs MLGA) during 2008 and until now the cooperation programs with Albania and Macedonia are ready to be submitted, with Albania and Macedonia are ready to be submitted, whereas with Montenegro will be realized during next year.whereas with Montenegro will be realized during next year.

• We will work so that we will do this with our northern We will work so that we will do this with our northern neighbor, Serbianeighbor, Serbia..

Cross-border cooperationCross-border cooperation

The main achievements of the Programs of Cross-Border Cooperation The main achievements of the Programs of Cross-Border Cooperation until May 2010:until May 2010:

• Institutional structures dealing with Programs of CBC are Institutional structures dealing with Programs of CBC are established and the contacts with Operational Structures of three established and the contacts with Operational Structures of three neighboring countries were set.neighboring countries were set.

• Two programs of CBC are prepared, Kosovo-Albania and Kosovo-Two programs of CBC are prepared, Kosovo-Albania and Kosovo-Macedonia and are ready to be submitted to the authorities of ECMacedonia and are ready to be submitted to the authorities of EC. .

• MLGA officials are trained regarding the CBC process under the MLGA officials are trained regarding the CBC process under the IPA fundingIPA funding..

• Training activities were held also in the awareness of more than Training activities were held also in the awareness of more than 80 officials of different ministries, other central agencies, Regional 80 officials of different ministries, other central agencies, Regional Development Agencies (RDA) and other local authorities on the Development Agencies (RDA) and other local authorities on the CBC framework and Kosovo possibilitiesCBC framework and Kosovo possibilities. .

• Support on the training of 25 employees of RDAs and mentoring Support on the training of 25 employees of RDAs and mentoring provided for local authorities on the preparation of draft-proposals provided for local authorities on the preparation of draft-proposals for participation in the grand scheme for call of proposals funded for participation in the grand scheme for call of proposals funded by EC in the regional developmentby EC in the regional development. .

Cross-border cooperationCross-border cooperation

• This is a good chance for the stimulation of This is a good chance for the stimulation of cooperation of boundary regions in the cooperation of boundary regions in the fields of economic development, fields of economic development, environment protection, social cohesion, environment protection, social cohesion, tourism, civil society etc.tourism, civil society etc.

• Cross-border cooperation will replace the Cross-border cooperation will replace the iron curtains set by the former non-iron curtains set by the former non-democratic regimes in Balkans. democratic regimes in Balkans.

• Kosovo will work with the other countries Kosovo will work with the other countries to create synergy towards the cohesive to create synergy towards the cohesive development of the region and will be a development of the region and will be a sample in this aspect.sample in this aspect.

Cross-border cooperationCross-border cooperation

Twinning of municipalities of Kosovo with Twinning of municipalities of Kosovo with municipalities and city abroadmunicipalities and city abroad

• A considerable number of municipalities of A considerable number of municipalities of Kosovo are twinning with municipalities or cities Kosovo are twinning with municipalities or cities of EU, Albania, Turkey…of EU, Albania, Turkey…

• Their cooperation is on different fields, mainly in Their cooperation is on different fields, mainly in culture, education, sport and environment and culture, education, sport and environment and infrastructural supportinfrastructural support..

• It is worth stressing the Municipality of Gjilan It is worth stressing the Municipality of Gjilan which has a good cooperation with the region which has a good cooperation with the region municipalities with which is bounded and widermunicipalities with which is bounded and wider..

Regional cooperationRegional cooperation

• Regional Development is among the most Regional Development is among the most important policies of EU and one of the Chapters important policies of EU and one of the Chapters on the negotiation phase for membership in EU, on the negotiation phase for membership in EU, thus it has importance and relevance for the thus it has importance and relevance for the future developments in Kosovo.future developments in Kosovo.

• Regional Development as an agenda is closely Regional Development as an agenda is closely related with the issues having to do with Plans related with the issues having to do with Plans and Strategies on National Development and it and Strategies on National Development and it is interrelated with the coordination of inter-is interrelated with the coordination of inter-sectional and inter-ministerial policies sectional and inter-ministerial policies addressing development in regional and local addressing development in regional and local levels.levels.

Issues to be addressedIssues to be addressed

• Cooperation between municipalities of Kosovo with the Cooperation between municipalities of Kosovo with the purpose of rationalization of budgetary expenditures.purpose of rationalization of budgetary expenditures.

• Intensification of forms of cooperation between Intensification of forms of cooperation between municipalities of Kosovo with those abroad.municipalities of Kosovo with those abroad.

• Building of institutional and those human mechanisms for Building of institutional and those human mechanisms for equilibrate regional development in Kosovo.equilibrate regional development in Kosovo.

• Building of the national and harmonized development Building of the national and harmonized development policy (strategy) with the needs and possibilities of regional policy (strategy) with the needs and possibilities of regional developmentdevelopment..

• Harmonization of development policies with those of EUHarmonization of development policies with those of EU

PerspectivePerspective

• The countries of western Balkans have the The countries of western Balkans have the same solutions, common aspirations same solutions, common aspirations towards the integrations to EUtowards the integrations to EU..

• Kosovo needs support and it is ready to Kosovo needs support and it is ready to face the integration challengesface the integration challenges..

Thank youThank you!!