5 December 2024, Prishtina – Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS) held a Roundtable Discussion on the topic: “Kosovo’s Reform Agenda: The gaps between planning and implementation”. The aim of this event was to discuss the recently adopted Kosovo’s EU Reform Agenda (RA) in the context of the Growth Plan adopted by the EU Council.  More specifically, it aims to discuss the process behind the preparation and adoption of the RA, while putting emphasis on its benefits and potential challenges during implementation.

At the beginning of the event, GLPS presented a draft Policy Brief that provides a detailed analysis on the benefits and challenges on its implementation and the interplay with the EU integration process. It will serve the expert and general public in Kosovo to better understand the way forward with the Growth Plan implementation in the national context. Among others, the Policy Brief tackles the consultation process during the preparation process, the importance of key policy areas stipulated with the RA, and the role of relevant institutional structures.

Participants invited include representatives from the government, civil society, media and other important stakeholders. Panelists emphasized the importance of the Reform Agenda, and its impact on Kosovo’s EU integration path.

Mr. Dobra, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs in Kosovo, emphasized that the Ministry of Internal Affairs took serious efforts in the area of public administration reform, one of the key reform processes included in the Reform Agenda as well. On the other hand, Ms. Jashari – Advisor to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo in charge of EU integration, provided the audience with detailed information on the negotiation process with the EU in regards to Growth Plan, adding that the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) will bear the main responsibility for inter-institutional coordination, and implementation of the Reform Agenda. In addition, Mr. Collaku – Director of the Office for the Coordination of the Stabilisation-Association Process at the OPM, added that this program differs from earlier EU programs because the funds are focused on concrete projects, and execution will be faster.

During the discussion, GLPS highlighted its concerns and regretted the Government’s lack of an inclusive approach during the consultation process for drafting the Reform Agenda, while calling for significant efforts for the Government to increase coordination with all relevant stakeholders during the upcoming periods, in particular with the parliament and civil society. Considering the complexity and significance of the Reform Agenda, GLPS considers that the whole implementation period should take place under an inclusive approach and full transparency to the public.

Panelists:

Mr. Bardhyl DOBRA – Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs in Kosovo;

Ms. Agnesa JASHARI – Advisor to the First Deputy Prime Minister in charge for EU Integration;

Mr. Artan ÇOLLAKU – Director of the Office for the Coordination of the Stabilisation-Association Process in the Office of the Prime Minister.

This activity was organized as part of the regional project “Pathways to EU Integration: Advancing the Dialogue on the Western Balkans Growth Plan” funded by TEN – Think for Europe Network – Western Balkans which is implemented by the Open Society Foundations network.

Venue: Hotel Swiss Diamond, Square Mother Theresa, 10000 Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo.