These three Kosovo municipalities were the most transparent during 2018

The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) and NGO active through a conference today has made the publication of the report “Transparometer (201818x2>, which highlights findings and recommendations from the measure of transparency in 15 Kosovo municipalities. Based on the measurements of 58 indicators on four pillars, the most transparent municipality came out of Drenas (by meeting 82.22% of the indicators), while less transparent was Mamusha's (fulfilling 27.12% of indicators). The subject of this transparency index were municipalities: Drenas, South Mitrovica, Year, Malisheva, Cline, Dragas, Kamenica, Gracanica, Obilic, Shtrpce, Mamusa, North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposaviq and Zvecan, while their results are as follows: 1. Darnas (82.22%), 2. South Mitrovica (77.97%), 3. The year (72.88%), 4. Malisheva (72.88%), 5. Kline (68.66 %), 6. Dragashi (64.41%), 7. Kamenica (62.71%), 8. Shtrpca (56.78%), 9, Gracanica (54.24%).10. Obiliki (53.39%), 11. Mamusa (27.12%).

At the opening of this conference Ismet Kryeziu, the executive director of KDI, has stressed that lack of transparency, poor public participation of decision-making and not enough ethics in government are not only a challenge for local institutions, but also for central governance. Therefore, KDI and the project it is implementing in these municipalities aims to reduce the risk of ill-governance, increase citizen confidence in institutions and participation in decision-making.

British Ambassador to Pristina Ruair O'Connell, has stressed that this project concerns the power citizens maintain. He has said that the essence of democracy is rule by the people. We have an expression in Britain thatditure is power. If citizens are engaged in the democratic process, their power grows. The more information citizens have about how their representatives are ruling, the more they can ask them to account. The more questions they ask, the more responsible their politicians become. Wisdom is power. And wisdom that is laid in men's hands is a mighty thing. But that power also has no meaning unless humans use it. Active citizenship is the key to democracy.

In its address, Rosafa Ukimeriaj, secretary general of the Ministry of Administration and Local Power (MAPL), has suggested that despite progress in some areas, municipal transparency remains one of the major challenges. ” A small number of municipalities offer access to official documents and that is disturbing, while only a small number of municipalities meet budgetary transparency”, Ukimeraj has added.

While Ahmet Rushiti from KDI after presenting results to each municipality, he has encouraged municipalities to avoid bureaucratic procedures related to citizens' demands and to work on creating effective mechanisms for their management. He has asked municipalities to implement the law on official languages and make data opening.

Miodrag Milicevik from “NGO ACTIV” has said that implementation of this project in northern municipalities opens up opportunities and routes for transparency and accountability to the largest local level.

Representatives of municipalities involved in this publication have agreed with the findings of the report and have expressed their commitment to establishing further transparency of institutions.

The report with full findings and recommendations can be downloaded here: http://kdi-kosova.org/publishment/transparometer-communal-2018-2/
The “Project establishing the accountability of local governance institutions” is supported by the British Embassy in Pristina. /Periksopi