Apostolova hits Haradinaj: Do not waste your money on deputy ministers' salaries

It is painful when it comes to public administration, and Kosovo is the country that has 80 deputy ministers. We want to see the money used for real reform, not for sub-ministerial salaries.

So said EU representative in Kosovo Natalia Apostolova, in presenting the Review Report, which was introduced by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology ( MAST, which is done with the support of the European Commission.

important that these recommendations that GIZ has made are taken seriously. Then it depends on how committed the minister and his team are to implement these reforms. To be held accountable for the August. We need the commitment of the Ministry of Finance and Public Administration because some of the reforms they speak here will affect their spheres. It's painful when we talk about public administration. Kosovo is the country that has 80 deputy ministers. I don't want to make comparisons with other countries in the region. But you know what I mean. In the public administration in its reform, when we spend the budget on greater support than 75m euros. We want to see that money is used for real reform, not just for the salaries of deputy ministers”, she said, the KP reports.

Apostolova further said the EU views education as the priority sector in Kosovo and plans to invest 35m euros in education, but that they need a stable partner in August.

Before we double our investment amount, we must make sure that we have a stable and strong partnership in August. You heard the report and it's clear to everyone what I'm talking about. We need to be sure that the EU's financial assistance will be spent in the efficient and effective way. So we need to review the ministry. We agreed with the minister to realise this project. We aim to have a model of quality system and believe that these recommendations will help us. Review identifies actual gaps. The report has a concrete plan on how to address the existing challenges in August. We agreed with August to implement these recommendations. We believe that these changes will bring a better and efficient organisation of the ministry”, she said.

Education Minister Shyqi Bytyqi said the report has come up with 15 finds, which are necessary, in order to take concrete measures to improve the situation within the ministry. While adding that in the report, 10 recommendations have been made, how to approach these findings, so that in a short period of time, weaknesses related to the ministry are eliminated.

“We have formed Task Force and are in harmonisation of joint work with the European community and other partners so that we can agree on our interactions, to take concrete measures for each finding and each recommendation, to eliminate all these weaknesses that have been identified. I consider this to be a very positive step, and after taking the first steps towards realising these goals that come out of the report, we will see a different operation of August and see that each responsible within the ministry, including the minister himself from down to low officials, will be responsible for this clear responsibility and accountable for their work. We are willing from today to continue working to the realisation of these goals, which are important and we see the ministry after the end of these goals, a ministry is different and a functioning of the ministry quite differently”, he said.

Meanwhile, Mark Barrett, the representative of the GIZ, who is the project leader, said it is time for changes, but which requires time.

We've come to the findings that affect different areas. The ministry generally has many agencies, but they have limited staff. We have seen political and administrative organisation, including the role of deputy ministers, and how they co-ordinated activities or how they did not co-ordinate activities with policies. Now is the time for action and time for change. Things cannot change overnight and in the area of reforms. It's a misunderstanding that things can change quickly. But in some areas it can be done. But these proposals we have to implement, implement this reform that will bring results. We have proposed in review, to put the ministry on clear track to deliver these results”, he said.