The EC Liaison Office in Kosovo recently launched two twinning projects, one helping the Office of Auditor General and the other supporting the Agency for Coordination of Development and European Integration (ACDEI) in the process of EU integration. The first twinning project of € 1 million, aims to strengthen the auditing capacities of the Office of Auditor General (OAG), while the second will prepare Kosovo institutions to set up necessary structures for effective management of EU financial assistance.

Twinning projects involve EU experts working as advisors in a partner country on specific projects. They collaborate with their colleagues in a ministry or governmental institutions in developing modern and efficient administration, with the structures, human resources and management skills needed to implement the Acquis Communautaire. To date, Kosovo benefits from eight ongoing twinning projects.

Treaty of Lisbon enters into force

The Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on 1 December 2009, marked by a ceremony organised jointly by the Portuguese Government, the Swedish Presidency and the European Commission in Lisbon. The Commission believes that the new treaty provides significant new benefits for citizens and will settle the institutional debate for the foreseeable future. This will allow the European Union to fully concentrate on managing a smooth exit from the economic and financial crisis and pushing ahead with the 2020 strategy for greener growth.

New homes provided for displaced persons in Klinë/Klina and Istog/Istok

The returns and re-integration of displaced persons in Kosovo remains one of the biggest challenges for the Kosovo institutions. However, much has been done in the last few years. Only in November and December, the European Commission, UNDP and the Ministry of Communities and Returns offered keys to 47 houses for displaced persons in villages of Klinë/Klina and Istog/Istok municipalities.

The project aims to contribute to the dignified and sustainable return of at least 210 minority returns and their reintegration in municipalities of Klinë/Klina, Ferizaj/Uroševac, Obiliq/Obilić and Rahovec/Orahovac, through increased engagement of governmental and local stakeholders.

Findings of a study on corruption presented

Kosovo’s progress in eradicating corruption is limited, with biggest challenges being improving legal framework, cooperation between Kosovo’s Agency for Anti-Corruption and prosecutors office, among other issues. On 9th of December a study on corruption was presented in a meeting chaired by the European Commission in Pristina. The debate aimed to enhance public awareness on corruption, as well as focus on future anti-corruption activities in Kosovo.

The study reveals that corruption falls within three distinct patterns of behaviour that are firmly embedded across all sectors of society, such as corruption seen as an opportunity, as well as supported by social and professional networks

New Kosovo Customs and Border Police building opened in Glloboçicë/Globočica

Actions to strengthen the overall border security in Kosovo continued in December by building the new Border Police and Customs buildings at the Glloboçicë/Globočica border crossing with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, an EU-funded project of half a million Euros.

The 2009 Progress Report identifies Kosovo’s borders as “porous and still not fully secured”, with north of Kosovo remaining a particular challenge. Fighting organized crime in Kosovo is closely linked with border security. Therefore, the modern building constructed in Glloboçicë/Globočica according to EU standards will enable the activities of Customs and Border Police to be carried out safely and effectively.  

Kosovo with reliable power supply with the help of EU funds

Kosovo's economy is still plagued by power shortages, which could potentially become even more frequent due to the fact that the coal in the existing mines will run out in one to two years. To remedy the situation, the European Commission in mid December officially handed the rehabilitated heavy coal mining machinery to KEK. The so-called overburden system will be used to open the new Sibovc mine, scheduled to start providing lignite to existing power plants from 2010/11.

This project, co-funded by the European Union with over €17 million, will support the effective and self-sustaining energy sector in Kosovo, improve the existing machinery initially installed in 1972, as well as make it more reliable. This project also supported the Kosovo Government and the KEK to open the new South-west Sibovc mine and consequently to provide enough coal supply to the existing power plants after the current supplies run out.

Helping higher education programmes

The education system in Kosovo continues to be affected by resource constraints, the lack of adequate facilities, poor quality of teaching and low enrolment rates. The European Commission continues supporting the higher education system in Kosovo. It does so by helping universities from EU Member States to cooperate with those of Kosovo through projects that are aimed at modernizing higher education systems, as well as to enable cooperation and mobility in the field of higher education.

In December, the EC Liaison Office with the Kosovo Tempus Office promoted new opportunities in EU higher education programmes, with a special focus on the third call for proposals under Tempus IV 2007-2013 Programme. The new Tempus call for proposals will be open until 9 March 2010, with €2 million dedicated for Kosovo projects. The second call for proposals with a total budget of € 1.8 million will fund six Tempus IV Kosovo projects, starting from mid-January 2010.

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