A 2026 budget bill approved on the commission requires growth for pensions and support for autism

With numerous discussions, with 6 votes “for”, 0 against and 1 abstention passed the draft budgetary division law for Kosovo's 2026 budget by the Commission for Human Rights, Gender Equality, Labour, Family, Values of Liberation War and Petition.

The Commission's deputy chairman from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Artan Behrami, stressed that avoiding the budget in the Assembly has caused restrictions.

“As far as the budget is concerned, we as deputies who are being elected for the first time are doing the same area of things in this process. I believe this path has been passed by each of you in front of us. We too have considered the budget; I know from previous parliamentary practices that a period of review and budget analysis in the past has been greater. But this deviation that has been made in the Parliament limits us and we have a very limited space, which also limits us from giving conservative remarks. These are not accusations against anyone, but the area we cover would provide solutions. We've seen this budget. Of course, it would be very good to have all budget-related organizations associated with human rights here on this commission to listen to their needs. I know they can come forward through writing, but such discussions would weigh more on content. Since we don't have this time, we've seen some things that have to be improved and we're going to propose some amendments, depending on the deadlines that have been set. As for today, I have two more topics that enter the fields and other books that connect with human rights, which I believe we later talk about”, said Behrami.

Commission member from the Democratic League of Kosovo, Armend Zemaj, had questions about calling this Commission.

The “is an important commission that has the Assembly of Kosovo, now taking into account even this division that has been made, which is not defined either in the Parliament's Labour Rule but not with the division of ministries. And maybe this is us here, on my mind, on budgetary divisions, considering that we still don't know how the budget process will be carried in what is responsible for the work, the family, or even the Human Rights, that most fall into MPMS field activity as it once was. And the rest that has been added, the values of the Liberation War and the Pyticions, which is a procedural part and constitutionally belongs to the citizens of the Republic of Kosovo. But I also have a question: What are we discussing, and what are we meeting up for? Because, first of all, it's under review the Law on Business Divisions. Are we on second reading, or between readings? Or is it left of what has been a necessary part of the procedural respect of voting in principle? Because the law has already passed, now with regulations, that is, deadlines. And we should be today in the second review of the law, or amendments proposed by MPs. The amendments are not, as I see material, and this part for us is content for what we've put today in order. If it is for second reading, then it should be a review of the second-read bill and the commission's vote is required: for, against or abstained. If you have any additional information, it's another matter, but it's usually wrong about what's been decided on. After he went to the plenary session, we're now in the middle of two readings. But even if we were in the middle of two readings, the amendments of MPs or even assembly groups should be expected, to see whether or to enforce our field of activity (which concerns these four areas that are now specific) and we should decide on those amendments as to how we vote. That's what I wanted to say. For the rest of us, we will certainly agree on our time, schedule, and schedules. And it's good that as soon as we seek the division of the commission's responsibilities, we apply in different areas in the reportings of ministers or people responding to the commission. But as you called this committee meeting today, it's good to be consolidating and meeting, but it's devoid of content. Once again I'm saying, it's devoid of content, because the review of the bill has passed, the first reading is done, we're in the middle of two short-term readings. If there are amendments, or if we can get into question as deputies, either as a commission (we could present any amendments or any of us asked for commission support), then that would be welcome too. At the moment I can see that there are; maybe they have other colleagues, don't go to retaliation, they may have proposals, but I can see neither material at the moment, nor proposals for us to vote for or against the law of second reading”, Zemaj said.

Commission member from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Sala Jashari, had a request to form an amendment about pensiones of different categories.

It is true that Kosovo's budget has come very soon, it has been voted very soon, and we as new deputies have had little difficulty covering for just two days more than 700 budget pages. Yet, what I would like after your cooperation is in the event of pensions. If you have a chance to notice that veterans' pensions, pensions and old age, at the same time as disabled persons, and others, even blind ones, are removed from Kosovo's minimum wage. Now we know that minimum wages have increased to 425 euros, while these still have a pension of 170-180 euros. As far as it's possible for us as a commission to create an amendment through which we ask for growth, at least, because we know today it's very difficult to spend the month at 170 or 180 euros on a family that has no other family aid or under different circumstances. So, if we could have a partnership in this regard, we have until 12: 00 p.m. tomorrow, if we want to send an amendment together as Commission“, Jashar said.

Albana Bytyqi, a member of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, had a requirement for establishing another amendment.

I'm not seeing anything that should vote on this budget because we are interested in some amendments to prepare. I, for example, wanted to be a joint commission to prepare, except MP Jashari, who said that amendment that I fully agree must prepare. However, the church wanted another amendment to prepare for those with autism, who are the only ones who do not receive anything even in need of social assistance. So these people are very neglected. I'd like the commission to prepare an amendment and call in two hours, three hours, we're here in the Assembly and we can discuss the amendments to vote on the Kosovo budget. So for the moment I wanted, except for the committee's dedication, I didn't want anything else to continue as my agenda. ”

Commission member Salih Zyba from the Vetevendosje Movement said that first the point of the agenda should be considered until there were interventions by AAK member Albana Bytyqi.

We are at a very important point. We are at a budget review point, which is up to the final session decision. And please something, accelerated deadlines, mostly votes, which force us to examine even with approval or not this budget. Now, other discussions, especially sensitive topics like college, as far as I'm concerned with different laws, I'm ready at every stage, I'm ready to see them, we're monitoring as a commission, we're getting stuck. But today, with legal change and proposal off the agenda, we can change something, but the budget, I asked you, the evental proposals, or the amendments have been set to this point. It's accelerated deadlines, I'm not imposing procedures, please, we're other commissions on the same issue. There was no crossing on the other commissions either. The agenda was approved. Private theme: The budget, if there's someone proposed, handed in, any amendments, I welcome them to consider, they gave me time, but not other themes.

I'm interested because the budget in the fast procedure, but with special respect for the way the colleague says, it's a budget, it's coming soon. We're in last month, the last few days of opportunity to review this budget. That's when I get all categories, not those discriminated against, perhaps rightly, that I'm part of the voice of what we need to change the law. But today we're at the budget, budget code lines, let's see. If we don't have an amendment, because you know something: We don't see physical copies, we have them on email or private ones. Official computers and emails are under way, in procedure. We can become aware, each one of us didn't have enough attention. In other terms. Today, Albana, you want to discute, but you're not even interfering with me unless you have a reason. You don't read the budget, you don't have the tenders and you want to pass the legal deadline? We ignore it here with responsibility, professional responsibility. Next facts: We have today for review and approval of the budget. The conclusion of the session, if the colleague raised the case, is there or scʹka? We don't have any new amendments. We support the current budget proposal. You know something about the relevant ministry that college raised as a matter, but it's not in this budget because the ministry, as it has rightly been criticised at the session, does not have the budget line itself. They have to reconsider the budget. So the new management authority, the minister and the cabinet are improvised for start-up, but not for full, much less for mandate. But neither year nor year is until review. Mr. Minister, the review will come, every one of our requests at the hearings, the next meeting, whatever request we've considered. We've asked the minister to report, and we have written answers or budgets for the particular category.

Because sharing, I'm returning to your memory, veterans, forgive me, the recipients of the schemes, the professions, is divided by the law on minimum wage. There is still no movement in this mandate, we have an obligation to press this law. And why minimal? They must be privileged categories in society, those especially with values for war and for the long-term values Kosovo has.

But not thinking and saying: “should push the law”. We're falling down that we're interfering with the laws. We're pushing budget today. That I'm taking care of my colleague's request: What is the budget limit for this category? What's their payment coincidence? These aren't our issues, we'll ask the relevant ministry.

Keep in mind that it is of interest to me even in the society that we consider these laws. This commission has to monitor them, we have to find them, we have to create a working group commission. We are considered a commission to reach the conclusion, meet these categories, especially those mentioned by our colleague (wars), and then conclude meetings and findings in the law, make proposals for change. I sign the requirements for legal changes. Now, sir, that everything's come here, are old laws, they're not mandated now, nor are they priors. They've got some, over 10 years. Hence, changes are necessary, even in addition to administrations - even for payment - but to separate the law from the budget. I, if there's someone in the administration that I hear, at the request: where the budget line comes from and what the budget line is coming from, I'm with the proposal with all the call votes, that we're late“, Zyba said.

The point of the agenda was: Review of Bill No.10/ L-001 on budgetary divisions for the Kosovo Republic budget for 2026.