Reduced number of ministries with negative consequences

Decreasing the number of ministries is one of the points of reconciliation between the LDK and the VV for the next coalition.

The EPIK Institute says the unification or merger of some ministries could have negative consequences for the country.

The last “, in public discourse, has emerged the political will for reducing the number of ministries, and in this context has been presented the idea of joining the European Integration Ministry with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since our organisation's mission is to formulate alternatives to public policy, this study was inevitable”, the announcement said.

“While reducing the number of ministries is welcomed with open hands and uncontained enthusiasm, we should underline that sharing the integration process from the prime minister will be a strategic mistake, which will create preconditions for slowing European reforms”, the communiqué says further.

In this direction, we explain 10 reasons why with the closure of the Ministry of European Integration, the integration process should be carried under the responsibility of “Chief Reformor”, or Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, and why the simplistic and unintelligative approach of the integration process is as wrong as possible for the integration process.

Based on the experience of countries in the region, there are three models of organising institutional responsibility for co-ordinating the European integration process:

Secretariat/Agenci within the prime minister's office, and under the responsibility of Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Integration (Macedonia, Bosnia);

Ministry of European Integration (Kosovo, Serbia);

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Montenegro, Albania).

Taking on the experience of countries in the region as well as specifics of the integration process, in the study EPIK has formulated 10 reasons why the best model of running the integration process is under the authority of the prime minister.

THE MAKE OF THE PROCES INTEGRATION: The process of European integration is not just one of the processes. It is the most important state process and strategic definition of our society. 90% of citizens of the Republic of Kosovo think EU membership is good ( RCC, Balkan Barometer, 2017. As such, no authority lower than the prime minister can bear this state burden.

COUNTRY OF EFEKIVE: In the integration process, there are no easy decisions which are in the jurisdiction of a ministry. Decisions in the integration process call for making difficult decisions for society that only the prime minister can make. Consequently, any institutional architecture of the integration process should be structured in that form that enables the prime minister's direct involvement and decision making in the integration process.

V ISIBILLITE PROCESIT INTEGRATION: It is essential that the prime minister, as head of the Government, assume responsibility and guidance in the communication of the integration process. This puts the prime minister in the focus of communication of the integration process with social actors.

LLOGARICA: The prime minister appoints, the prime minister dismisses. This sentence sums up the essence of the account argument in the most important reforming process, such as the integration process. The institutional architecture for the integration process should be designed so that in its own era it will be the requirement for the reform company and the prime minister's fair information to demand accountability.

COO There are many bosses inside the Government, but there is one person whose decisions are irreversible and non-negotiable ) prime minister's decisions. Therefore, only a superior authority, such as the prime minister, can provide the necessary political weight and authority to ensure effective co-ordination of the European agenda both within and outside the government.

UNFORMATE: The success of the integration process is measured by the number of successful cases in fighting high-level corruption in Pristina, the number of job inspections in Pec, the number of water plants built in Mitrovica, or the number of children registered in pre-school education in Prizren. Consequently, the integration process as an internal reform process should be correctly understood, which makes possible a better life for the citizens of Kosovo, not for the citizens of France or Germany. Therefore, the simplified and uninformed approach under which the integration process has anyone in common with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is as fatal as it is for the integration process.

THE BIBLE'S VIEWPOINT INTERAL PROCES: Recognizing the fact that in recent years we have witnessed the most powerful interconnection between the integration process and the good neighbourly process in the Western Balkans, the prime minister will be in an ideal position to be a liaison point between the two processes, thus avoiding the dicocotomy between them.

CREDIBILITE EU FONDEVES: These are not just money, but are a matter of credibility of the state of Kosovo. In recent years we have witnessed that Kosovo has lost EU funds due to the non-fulfillment of obligations on the part of institutions. That's unattended. Recognising the political burden of EU funds, as well as recognizing obstacles that may arise in their absorption, and which can only be overcome by the prime minister's authority, it places the prime minister's position irreplaceable in assuming responsibilities for EU funds.

CENTRAL CENTRY CEVENTAR: Government is an extremely complex and multidimensional institution. Execution of the prime minister's mandate is very complex political and technical enterprise. Every day, the prime minister overflows with dozens of urgent, non-urgent issues, which consume his attention, time and political capital. The integration process imposes uniting the integration structure with the Government's centre in order to ensure full unification of the integration process with its daily policies, thus focusing the prime minister's attention on the most important and urgent issues. Any evacuation of these two structures carries cost for the integration process.

FU CIZIM ADMINISTRATIV: The European Union, Germany, Luxembourg and Norway have invested 43.7 million EURO to date in advancing staff responsible for European integration. Strengthening staff engaged in the area of European integration, under the umbrella of the highest government structure of the prime minister, will enable them to contribute to the acceleration of the European reform company, taking on the weight of authority they will exercise under the supreme authority of the Government.