The Ministry of Local Government Administration, in cooperation with the EU Office in Kosovo, Switzerland, Sweden, and Norway, has 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 awarded the grant are Rahovec/Orahovac, Obiliq/Obilic, Skënderaj/Srbica,Dragash/Dragaš, Kaçanik/Kačanik, Malishevë/Mališevo, Parteš/Partesh, Pejë/Peć, Ranilug/Ranillug, Shtime/Štimlje and Suharekë/Suva Reka. Through this grant, the 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, emphasized the importance of raising the quality of public administration, which should be open, transparent, and accountable.
“Reform in public administration is a government priority. Practices in European states have shown 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.
“As the EU, we take immense pride in being a part of this innovative mechanism that fosters municipal performance and brings citizens closer to their local administrations. Improving the efficiency of Kosovo municipalities is a key aspect of good governance. An accountable, transparent, and well-functioning public administration improves citizens’ lives 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 recognize and commend the hard work and dedication put forth by municipal officials, mayors, directors, and assembly members. This dedication not only enhances the performance of municipalities but also strengthens local democratic governance, elevates 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 crucial for a strong democratic culture. Democracy truly succeeds when citizens actively participate. Ministry together with mayors and their teams stand as architects, turning ideas into tangible results for their communities. It is imperative that citizens become integral decision-makers in the process of choosing projects that directly impact 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 totaling 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.
