Kosovo Local Government Institute
Instituti Kosovar për Qeverisje Lokale
Kosovski Institut za Lokalnu Samoupravu
Inter Municipal Co-operation in Kosovo
Observation Analysis and Assessment on Situation of
Inter Municipal Cooperation in Kosovo
KLGI
Besnik Tahiri MSc, Leandrit I. Mehmeti PhD Candidate, Shpend Qamili MA
March 2009, Prishtina
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1. Introduction
1.1.
Abstract
This paper will briefly analyze the situation of inter municipal cooperation (hereafter referred to
as IMC) in Kosovo, the current legal infrastructure regarding this issue and will try and explore
further on what stage this process is in some particular municipalities in Kosovo. There will be
an attempt to see how some municipalities cooperate among them, what kind of cooperation do
they have and what are the challenges in encouraging and fostering the IMC process. Findings
and analysis in this paper are based on empirical study that KLGI conducted through desk
research, field trips and meetings with relevant stakeholders in some selected municipalities, and
government and nongovernment institutions.
KLGI findings show that the legal infrastructure and mechanisms to regulate and promote inter
municipal cooperation are in place. However, KLGI sees the need to introduce some changes on
the draft law on Inter Municipal Cooperation and Partnerships. Mayors, according to particular
political environments and circumstances in different municipalities, are faced with challenges of
political and administrative nature. KLGI shares the opinion that inter-municipality and crossborder cooperation is a crucial part of the local self-government reform that would not only have
a great impact on the decentralization process and eventually contribute to a smooth
decentralization process, but it would have an effect on the economical development planning
and strategies. The latter is particularly dependable on the creativity of the Mayors, who should
be able to find the ways to overtake the difficult challenges and use the legal mechanisms to
foster inter municipal and cross border cooperation process that is of benefit to all stakeholders.
1.2.
Background
Although Kosovo’s political circumstances have changed after the declaration of Independence
of 17th February 2008, the reform of the local governance that had started to take shape since the
Interim Administration of United Nations (UNMIK). It is a continuing process marked by words
“work in progress”1. Since year 2000 UNMIK has compiled different administrative orders and
regulations on local self-governance (Regulation 2000/45 being the main one for that period)
based on the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government of Council of Europe.
This pawed the way to the organization of first democratic local elections after1999.
1
Universal quote from field visits in Podujeve, Obiliq and Gjakove municipality.
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Reform of local government in Kosovo became an issue in late 2002 when the matter of
decentralization of local government was tackled from Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, Michael Steiner, to encourage the Serb community to take part in
local elections. The offer to the Serb community had questionable success in this direction, yet
decentralization remained on the agenda and nonetheless was integrally tied to inter-community
politics.
The new political circumstances brought new laws approved by the Kosovo Assembly such as
‘Law on Local Self Government’ (hereafter referred to as LLSG) that creates the basis for the
advancement of the local government reform. Yet, the reform still seems to continue with other
supplementary laws being drafted, such as the Law on the City of Prishtinë/Pristina2 that would
regulate the specific features of the local self-government such as financial aspect, citizen’s
participation, inter municipal co-operations of the city, etc. It is also the case with the Law on
Inter-Municipal Cooperation and Partnerships.
This paper will briefly analyze the situation of inter municipal cooperation in Kosovo, the
current legal infrastructure of this issue and will try to additionally explore on what stage this
process is in some particular municipalities in Kosovo. Further on, this paper will be organized
in four parts; the first part will see the legislative infrastructure and mechanisms that ensure and
regulates inter municipal cooperation touching upon the background of the parts of the LLSG
that deals with inter municipal cooperation, and will see how this cooperation would look like
according to the draft law on inter-municipal cooperation and partnership; the second part will
try and explore the current situation of this cooperation on the ground taking examples between
some municipalities in Kosovo; the third part will try and touch upon the difficulties that
municipalities have in establishing and fostering inter municipal cooperation (difficulties being
the tradition of some individuals in leadership and good governance practices and administration,
inter community politics, financial challenges and differences, and other specific problems such
as water recourses and other issues). The final part will offer a recap of some concluding
observations and recommendations that would come up after each part.
It is not the intent of this paper to offer a detailed legal analysis on this issue but rather an
observation of the legal, political, practical and theoretical aspects of the issue of Inter Municipal
Cooperation.
2
Article 2, paragraph 2.2 of Law on Local Self-Government
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2. Legal mechanisms and the Law on Local Self Government
2.1.
UNMIK regulation 2000/45 and other following regulations
UNMIK Regulation 2000/45 underwent different changes in 2006 and 2007 respectively with the
regulations 20006/54 and 2007/30; however the Law on the Local self Government adopted by
the Assembly of Kosova remains the main document to regulate the governance of the
municipalities. Chapter 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo (hereafter referred to as
Constitution) is the basis of the establishment of the LLSG and drafting of other Laws regulating,
promoting and fostering the local governance reform in Kosovo in accordance with the
principles of the European Charter of Local Self Government of the Council of Europe. More
specifically article 124 paragraph 4 of the Constitution specifies that “[Municipalities have the
right of inter-municipal cooperation and cross-border cooperation in accordance with the law]”3.
LLSG further on regulates in more details the competences, organization and operation of the
municipalities and its governance.
Basically, KLGI’s opinion is that the Mayors of municipalities being elected by a direct election
in accordance with the law on local elections4 and serving as an executive of the municipality (in
a way replacing the position and acting as a Chief Executive Officer that was regulated with the
UNMIK Regulation 2000/45 section 30.1 and 30.2) have the power and opportunity to plan,
promote and foster inter municipal and cross border cooperation (of which more in depth
analysis in part two of this paper). KLGI found that a limited number of Mayors have the ability
and capacity to deal with such policies and strategies and agrees that a strategy for overcoming
these dissimilarities could be of great benefit for the Mayors and could promote this process and
eventually have an impact on the economical development of some municipalities such as Decan
Municipality. The municipality in question is not involved that much in IMC and faces quite a
lot of difficulties with maintenance of infrastructure and other difficulties with regards to
economical development.5 Although Municipality of Decan borders with Municipality of
Gjakova, which despite the challenges of economical development is quite active in IMC and
cross border cooperation. The later could be of help in exchanging the experiences, mentoring
and encouraging a particular IMC that could be of mutual benefit. Such example could be drawn
from the case of IMC between Prishtina and PodujevoMunicipality, where Prishtina usually has
a mentorship role.6
2.2.
Legal provisions of LLSG
LLSG in general provides to the municipalities an extensive competencies and responsibilities
with regards to self-government, based on the principles of the European Charter of Local Self3
Constitution of the Republic of Kosova, accessed on 20 February, 2009 on http://www.assemblykosova.org/common/docs/kushtetuta_sh.pdf
4 See article 56.1 of LLSG
5 Conclusions from the site visit to Gjakove municipality
6
Findings from the site visit to Podujeve Municipality
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Government, following the above mentioned UNMIK regulations. Previous UNMIK regulations
underwent some very important changes such as the changes on the election of the Mayor that is
differently regulated on LLSG. These changes have amended the overall structure, organization
and operation of the municipal governance, giving the Mayors an extensive role in policy and
administrative management of the municipalities7. Further on, this gives the mayors the power to
initiate policies, represent and act on behalf of the municipality, which has its strengths and
weaknesses. One of the stronger sides of this new legal environment is that the mayors have the
opportunities to put in place their creativity, hence establish governing strategies for their
municipalities in order to promote social and economical development for the residents of the
municipality. A weak side of this approach is the possibility, and the actual situation in some of
the municipalities, that the mayors will not necessarily have the capacity to produce creative
governing strategies that would foster the economical or any kind of development. On this point
they (the mayors) may not be able to foresee the benefits of inter-municipal or cross-border
cooperation. This situation might bring a possibility of the creation of a power gap. It might
create a condition that a particular municipality stagnates from different development
possibilities, or fails to use the possibilities of engagement into this process. To overtake this
possible environment KLGI recommends at this point that the future law on Inter Municipal
Cooperation and Partnership should have in place more details on the initiation of the intermunicipal and cross-border cooperation along with explanatory documents. KLGI also
recommends that the possibility of IMC should granted to more extended individuals and groups
outside of the municipal government, not only to those that are being addressed in the draft law8.
LLSG entitles the municipalities to enter into agreements with villages, quarters or settlements
within their territory in order to be able to provide services much closer to citizens.9 Chapter 5 of
the LLSG deals specifically with the issue of Inter-Municipal Cooperation, however it does not
specifically state the details of this cooperation or its extent. The provisions of inter municipal
cooperation and partnership as they are described on LLSG do not offer more specific points on
how this partnership could be situated, nor is the extent of different fields of interest explained.
Because of the circumstances in certain municipalities, and very often because of the elected
individuals in the municipal assemblies, KLGI has observed an extent of confusion, which brings
back the previous provisions of UNMIK regulation 2000/45 as one of the main documents of
local self-government. KLGI believes that the key of the confusion here is the lack of more
details in LLSG when it comes to IMC. KLGI at this point also perceives it as necessary to
recommend that the future law on Inter-municipal Cooperation and Partnership promulgates in
details the areas where this cooperation is needed or possible such as urban planning, use of land,
forestry, roads infrastructure, public services as in administration and other possible cooperation.
It does state however, that municipal partnerships could be extended in the “…responsibilities in
the areas of their own and enhanced competencies with the exception of those listed under
paragraph 2 Article 40…”10. The clause ‘in the areas of their own’ is too broad and very vague
See article 58 of LLSG – Responsibilities of the Mayors
Draft Law on Inter-Municipality Cooperation and Partnership in article 9 states that:
“The initiative for inter – municipal cooperation, international inter-municipal cooperation and cross-border cooperation can be
taken from:
1.1 The Mayor of the Municipality;
1.2 1/3 of the members of the Municipal Assembly;
1.3 Associations and other interest groups.
9 See article 4.6 of the LLSG
10 See article 29.1 of the LLSG
7
8
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and it can be used from different perspectives again here according to the individual approach of
the particular municipality officials. Just as it is specified in article 17 on ‘own competencies’
and further on in article 17.111, there is the need to put additional work and further legal expertise
and proper revision in the law of Inter-municipal Cooperation and Partnership so that the
possibilities of partnership and cooperation of internal, cross-border and international nature
would look or be extended into these fields and others so that there would be left an additional
space for other creative ideas of specific individuals. This would contribute in the filling up of
the possible vacuum and not leave it only to the creativity of particular persons.
According to European Charter on Local self Government the LLSG goes further on Chapter 5
to specify the kinds of cooperation starting from villages, settlements, urban quarters12,
cooperation between the municipalities in the Republic of Kosova13, cross-border cooperation
with other local municipalities bordering the Republic of Kosova14, the right to associate with
other local government organization of Kosova15 or the right to associate with international
associations of the municipalities.16
As of the financial aspect of the management of municipalities article 24.2 states: “the municipal
budget shall consist of own source revenues; grants from the Government of Republic of
Kosova; donations and other revenues”. This gives the opportunity to the municipalities to
generate ‘other revenues’ however there seems to be a lack of understanding that a possible inter
municipal or cross border cooperation may create the possibility and the environment for this
purpose. This would bring about the need for concrete inter-municipal projects that would not
necessarily could come from municipal officials (mayors, 1/3 of members of municipal assembly
and associations and other interest groups, as per Draft Law on Inter Municipal Cooperation and
Partnership) but rather from other stakeholders like local and central government institutions,
international institutions, etc. KLGI at this point would recommend to MLGA17that in
cooperation with other international and local stakeholders establish a sustainable institutional
mechanism that would encourage, help and in some cases implement concrete inter-municipal
cooperation projects and/or ensure their implementation.
In general, the legal mechanisms, with some possible additional expertise and revision where
necessary, do ensure the provision for inter-municipal and cross border or international
cooperation.
Many observers seem to agree, and that is also the opinion of the KLGI based on site visits, that
the number of examples of inter-municipal, cross-border or international cooperation in Kosovo
since the first establishment of democratically elected self-governments is not encouraging.
However there were some examples of good practice and there are still such practices in all the
three categories of cooperation.
11
Article 17.1, point (a) to (s) of the LLSG
Article 34.1 of the LLSG
13 Article 28 of the LLSG
14 Article 30.1 of the LLSG
15 Article 32.1. of the LLSG
16 Article 33 of the LLSG
17 Ministria e Administrimit të Pushtetit Lokal – Ministry of Local Government Administration
12
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2.3.
Observation on some provisions of Draft Law on Inter-municipal Cooperation and
Partnership
This draft law seems to have as a basis chapter 5 of LLSG but further on details the structure and
organization of Inter-municipal Cooperation or other cross border or international cooperation
and determines the way, the conditions and establishment of cooperation and also determines the
way this cooperation will be financed, substantiated and supervised18. Despite of what was said
above about some possible revision of article 9 and article 10 as well seems to be open to
different interpretations19. Paragraphs 2.2. and 2.3. seem to be very vague and open to further
interpretation according to political circumstances and agendas of particular mayors especially
coming from parts of Kosovo where the rule of law is still questionable. Joining of financial
means could mean facing difficult repercussions if it would be combined with the cross-border or
international cooperation. The wording “Other forms of cooperation” could be interpreted in
many ways and that would create the space for different political maneuvers coming from
different political points of views. KLGI at this point would recommend further analysis of these
provisions to try and establish a more comprehensive and concise formulation, while adding the
necessary details to avoid the possibility of misinterpretation. KLGI recommends that at least
there should be room for such clarification in the explanatory document.
3. Situation of Inter Municipal Cooperation in Kosovo – Field Prespective
3.1.
Examples of some municipalities
Inter-municipal cooperation still seems to be a theory in many parts of Kosovo. This kind of
cooperation is successful only then when there is a mutual temporary benefit and interest. This
cooperation very often happens only with regards to road infrastructure projects in Kosovo.
Rarely this cooperation is extended in other field of interest like joint or sharing of public
services or administration, although there seems to be the necessity for this kind of cooperation
as many villages are closer (geographically) to another municipality rather than to the
municipality that they belong to territorially, or other field of interest such as joint waste
management or joint fire brigades. Often, as it was observed from KLGI during its research and
visits to some municipalities, if there is any form of inter-municipal cooperation mostly there is
some informal cooperation based usually on personal favors or ties between the executives of the
municipalities. Often as well these kinds of cooperation are successful as there is no doubt about
the mutual benefit and interest, however not that often there are formal documents that are
established to evidence or supervise or simply to regulate the details in formal way on the
Memorandum of Understanding kind of style. KLGI at his point recommends that MLGA in
Cooperation with UNDP and other stakeholders should prepare a training program for selected
civil servants in order to create a local knowledge for Inter Municipal Cooperation and
18
Article 1 of Draft Law on Inter-Municipal Cooperation and Partnerships
Article 10 of Draft Law on Inter-Municipal Cooperation and Partnerships states that:
“Internal inter-municipal cooperation and external inter-municipal cooperation can be established with an agreement for:
2.1. Providing of joint public services;
2.2. Joining of financial means; and
2.3. Other forms of cooperation.
19
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partnership, about the benefits of this process and about the legal procedures and provisions of
MLGA and other institutions of the Republic of Kosova. KLGI also believes that MLAP should
organize a conference with municipalities on this process to identify better the points of the
possible training program.
One very important issue is lack of any kind of IMC with regards to strategic planning among
the municipalities in Kosovo. There have been cases of twinning20 like Municipality of Gjakova
with Pardubice from Czech Republic, envisaging the possibility strategic economical and
cultural development and exchange, with the possibility of applying for EU funds. Still this is not
a case of Kosovo Inter Municipal Cooperation, it is International Inter-Municipal Cooperation,
for the purpose of strategic planning and development. KLGI in this view urges the need to
consider the possibilities of strategic planning with regards to IMC in all spheres of life,
especially in the sphere of economical development and
20
See 3.2. of this report
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3.2.
Municipality of Gjakova
Visit to Gjakova municipality on 4th March 2009 at the meeting with the Mayor Dr. Pal Lekaj21
the KLGI found that this municipality is active in inter-municipal cooperation including crossborder and international cooperation. Gjakova municipality has in place a cooperation agreement
with Decan municipality that is formalized through a MoU that is extended only in the
infrastructure of road building and maintenance on a joint project between these two
municipalities, where the beneficiary municipality in this case was the municipality of Decan.
More than 500m of paved road that was financed from Gjakova municipality. Municipalities that
surround Gjakova are in less favorable economical situation than Gjakova itself. Therefore, in
many ways there does not seem to be any benefit for this municipality that would come from
other municipalities in any form of IMC. However, there are plans like Peja-Decan-GjakovaPrizren bicycle road that is being planned with respective directories in the respective
municipalities. These negotiations on the topic of the cooperation between these four
municipalities have still not reached the stage of putting a MoU in place.
The Mayor intends to have cross-border cooperation, having a particular cooperation with
Tropoje, Bajram Curr and Krume on health, education, environment and public health issues.
The point of this cooperation is the possibility for the citizens from the other side of the border
(Albania) to be able to use the health services, education services that Gjakova municipality can
offer. The other cooperation that municipality of Gjakova has established recently is the twinning
of the town of Gjakova with the municipality of Pardubice of Czech Republic. In this case
Gjakova municipality benefits from this cooperation as they are already in the intensive phase of
drafting a project of strategic development so that these municipalities can jointly apply to EU
funds. The officials are under the impression that this is a visionary move and that they believe
that it will open new possibilities for both of the cities.
3.3 Municipality of Podujevo
Podujevo municipality was chosen for the purpose of data gathering, because territorially it is
one of the largest municipalities. There is an informal process of exchange with municipality of
Prishtina through frequent contacts of Directories of Prishtina Municipality. Mainly there is an
exchange of experiences regarding administration and functionality. One of the areas of this
cooperation is the issue of urbanism. There are frequent meetings and phone consultations with
Prishtina Municipality counterparts. Unfortunately, there is no other IMC with Prishtina or other
municipalities.
The water supply of Municipality of Prishtina is in territory of Podujevo municipality. However,
Podujevo manages the park around it and the environment, having no say over the management
of the water source. This is particularly frustrating for municipality of Podujevo, as the law does
really not regulate the management of the park clearly. Maybe the Law of Inter-Municipal
Cooperation and Partnership should include provisions that regulate such issues. It could even be
a part of Prishtina Local Governance Law.
21
Minutes of the Meeting with the Mayor of Gjakova municipality on 4th March 2009
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The “Sharban” road, which is the one that links Podujevo to Prishtina Municipality, which needs
capacity expansion, might become a point of a future IMC between these two municipalities.
There was a request made to the Ministry of Telecommunications to regionalize this particular
road in order to include Podujevo and Prishtina municipalities and even Kamenica municipality.
A confirmation of support from Prishtina municipality is necessary to start this possible IMC.
There are many mutually significant issues like water and solid waste management. These issues
were regional issues under the previous legal framework and now with the new law these are
competencies of Municipalities. Practical examples of this issue are Batllava water facility, waste
depository in Dumnica, and the issue of cleaning and maintenance of regional roads. Podujevo
also foresees some IMC with municipality of Mitrovica, regarding some land use by Podujevo
municipality farmers.
Cross-border cooperation of Podujevo municipality with Serbia municipality of Kursumlia has
some serious political obstacles. Administration in Podujevo municipality expresses readiness to
cooperate with municipality of Kurshumlia, also there are issues that need to be dealt jointly, but
political obstacles are major hindrance.
The municipal officials claim that there were no donors offering any help yet to Podujevo
municipality with regards to IMC until now. Recently, there was some work performed with
Riinvest Institute for the strategic economic planning. Initial meetings were held on September
2008, and no other steps are made yet. We realize that we need help for the 2009-2011development strategy, and we are actively seeking it. Although Podujevo municipality local
revenues were accomplished over 100% for the first time, compare to the previous projection,
there are fears that lack of development strategy might become and issue when spending these
means. Based on this, with regards to IMC, there are two ways to go: 1. Use IMC (eg. with
Prishtina, or Mitrovica) for the preparation of development strategy; 2. Or at least foresee some
future strategic IMC with neighboring municipalities when working on the development strategy
with Riinvest or any other party.
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3.4 Municipality of Obiliq
Obiliq municipality has cooperation with all neighboring municipalities. The municipality is the
receiver of EAR aid regarding the road Dardhisht - Fushe Kosove. This pavement included a 3
km long road on the side of Obiliq has an IMC with Vushtrri for the road from Breznice to
Stanovc. The budget is split 1.800km Obiliq with approximate value 164,000 euro. Vushtrri got
budget from the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications for the length of 2.8km, in the
amount of 575,000 euro. The discrepancy is because Vushtrri municipality is building a wider
road for 05.m than ours and also there is a side bumper built. This kind of arrangement is a cause
for a bit jealous attitude of Obiliq municipality, being smaller and less powerful economically.
There is a IMC being developed with Drenas municipality encompassing a road from Grabovc to
Guri i Plakes(Drenas)- Feronikel. Obiliq municipality has and IMC regarding water supply with
Vushtrri regarding villages Breznica, Plemetin and Priluzhe.
Waste and cleaning is separate issue from all the municipalities around, but the depository in
Obiliq (village Mirash) is used by Prishtina, Podujeve, Drenas, Fushe Kosove and Lipjan. This
waste depository is in Mirash. Cost of approximately 3.5 million for the establishment of the site
was covered by EAR, but there are problems regarding maintenance and fees that could be a
topic for the IMC between all 6 municipalities in question.
At the moment regional company of solid waste maintenance incorporates 4 municipalities
Prishtina, Podujeve, Obiliq and Fushe Kosove. The utility and cleaning company “Pastrimi”
should be paying a fee of 6 euro per ton of solid waste. This does not happen always because the
transportation of the waste is often outsourced from this company to some private carriers and
this is adding to the problem. The initial problem of course is the low percentage of payment of
the services in all four municipalities. This irresponsible approach is due to the lack of a formal
agreement between municipalities.
The most prominent formal IMC of Obiliq is with Prishtina and Podujevofor the road Obiliq Breznice- Podujeve. Through this IMC Obiliq has done their part of 7.9km, in the amount of
400.000 euro, from their municipality, Prishtina has done 1.6km and Podujevo2.5km. Each
municipality invested their own financial means in this joint veture.
Obiliq development is very much related to Prishtina. The city is expanding towards cadastral
territory of municipality of Obiliq. There are constant consultation taking place and the
possibility for IMC is tremendous. Special focus of national interest sites like power plants and
other projects are vital to economy of Obiliq and Prishtina. In this view the problem of ashes (the
depository from the power-plant) is being solved, and this is expected to bring about better
cooperation with Prishtina, because this territory (of ashes) falls under cadastral area of both
municipalities.
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4. Difficulties and challenges of the promotion of Inter Municipal Cooperation
Although the legal infrastructure in place is fairly adequate, in practice there are difficulties and
challenges in the implementation of IMC-s. These challenges are mainly related to:

Lack of awareness and understanding of benefits from IMC. This is linked with the fact
that until now, the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) was responsible for overall public
properties, including the public enterprises, municipal land, public buildings, firefighter
services, waste management, services that were provided at the municipal level. Some of
these competencies were transferred to newly established institution of Kosovo Property
Agency, and some others to municipalities, without proper explanation, clarification and
without necessary resources (financial, personnel and assets) to exercise these
responsibilities. This led to a serious confusion and lack of proper planning.

Deficiency of institutional mechanisms at central (MLGA and other sectors) and
municipal level (the AKM and municipalities) whose core responsibility is to foster the
establishment of IMC.

The information flow with regards to best practices is minimal to non-existent.

There is a strong focus in the implementation of political provisions of local government
(Ahtisaari Status Document) and not in development of the viable local government
policies.
There are also deficient municipal capacities especially in human resources and expertise.

Note: IMC-s within Kosovo also depends on the geographical position and it favors
municipalities that are geographically closer to the more developed municipalities.
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5. Recommendation for the next steps
In order to have meaningful IMC in Kosovo, the KLGI suggests to the UNDP in particular and
the MLGA, the following steps and activities to take place (extended into three major areas of
work):
1. Legal Framework

Support to the working group on the finalization of the Law on Inter-Municipal
Cooperation and Partnership. This law needs additional work and requires further
technical legal expertise and wider revision.

Support to the MLGA to establish sustainable institutional mechanisms to ensure the
implementation of the Inter-Municipal Cooperation Projects.
2. Capacity Building and Coordination Issues

Support to the responsible MLGA department to assemble IMC tools, (such as IMC
contract samples, MOU samples, assessment tools, explanatory documents, briefing
papers etc.)

Provide training and other necessary support in capacity building to the respective
MLGA department and other institutions such as the AKM that promotes IMC.

Organize a study visit for selected group of people (mainly civil servants) identified
by the MLGA with the purpose of learning from best international/regional practices.

Support to the MLGA (and the AKM) to establish a greater understanding of IMC
opportunities among all Kosovo municipalities, and impel them to think of IMC as a
tool for planning and development and not only as a tool for troubleshooting.

Support the organization of five regional workshops with municipal representatives in
order to increase the knowledge about the possibilities and benefits of IMC, whereby
the samples of IMC tools are presented and further crafted according to the
participant’s suggestions.
3. Potential IMC Pilots (with emphasis on issue regarding IMC types not done before)
Although during the research we did not come across any strong IMC in practice, however
the KLGI suggests following 6 IMC pilots (Note: timeline of this research was only one
month, therefore KLGI was focused only in couple of municipalities.):

Signing of MOU between Gjilan and Novoberdo on waste management and
firefighter brigade joint service delivery. The rationale behind this IMC is that
Novoberdo has no capacity to run these services; hence they use these services
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occasionally, while not having in place a formal agreement. They MOU would not
only formalize the utility provision, but clarifies financial implications, hence taking
some burden off Gjilan municipality.

Support to Obiliq Municipality in drafting their MOU with Prishtina Municipality for
the conversion of the industrial ashes depository into a park. This area is located
between Prishtina and Obiliq cadastral areas. Rationale behind this MOU would be
strategic development of the City of Prishtina and Obiliq, and environmental benefits
for both municipalities.

Support to joint utilization and benefits from Industrial Zone between Prishtina and
Fushe Kosove through signing of an MOU. Rationale behind this IMC is proper
industrial development, increase of revenues for municipalities, healthier and cleaner
environment, and proper division of responsibilities over the maintenance of the main
road.

Support in achieving MOU with regards to feasibility study of road infrastructure
(near the borderline) that encompasses Podujeve, Prishtina and Kamenica
municipalities. Rationale behind this is rural development of this area, as the
borderline is mainly, highland villages, which although close to urban areas find
themselves far from services. This would greatly improve citizen’s access to
municipal services. In case of positive feasibility study, chances are that central
government funds the construction, because of the importance of this road.

Provision of specific joint services provided by Prishtina municipal administration to
neighboring smaller municipalities. Rationale behind this IMC is that there is already
an informal mentoring and advisory process which could turn into a consulting and
joint administration in the areas of cadastral and urban planning services, but also in
other areas, such as inspectorates and accounting. This IMC could enable experts
from Prishtina municipality to provide compensatory advice and help to their
departmental counterparts. Not every municipality has the possibility to establish
directories or Assembly Committees in order to deal with issues that require that
particular expertise.

Public transportation line Shtime-Lipjan-Janjeve. Rationale behind this IMC is
linking marginalized communities and giving access to municipal and other services
to the non-majority communities. With this in mind a prospect of touristic activities
being developed in Janjevo, can be considered.
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