A conference entitled “Synergy – Empowering Local Governments in the Western Balkans for Regional Cooperation and EU Integration” is being held in Tirana from 5th to 7th March, and was organized by the Western Balkan Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, IVS, NALAS and ReSPA.
The following speakers delivered the opening remarks: Dr. Murra, Executive Director of the WBF, Arbjan Mazniku, Minister of Local Government of Albania, H.E. Kato, Ambassador of Japan to Albania and Linda Helbichová, Director of the International Visegrad Fund.
The first panel discussion, in which the Public Administration Reform Coordinator of Bosnia and Herzegovina Darko Kasap participated, was dedicated to the perspectives of local government reforms and the harmonization of reforms with European Union standards.
The Public Administration Reform Coordinator of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Darko Kasap, emphasized in his presentation that there is no ministry in the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina that has exclusive responsibility for public administration, as is the case in other Western Balkan countries. The Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office was established with the aim of coordinating four administrative levels for the development of comprehensive strategic documents for public administration reform, their implementation and monitoring.
The Coordinator stated that “the complexity of the organization of Bosnia and Herzegovina has a significant impact on the entire process of reforms being carried out in our country, and especially on the process of public administration reform. He said that different administrative levels with different competencies, which in some cases even overlap, greatly complicate this process, given that “we are not reforming one, but practically four basic administrations, and even more in areas where it is necessary to include the cantonal level, and then generally local self-government.”
Kasap pointed out the challenges of “translating certain reform goals and activities defined by the PAR Strategic Framework into a concrete implementation plan with clearly defined roles and positions of institutions at all administrative levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina”.
“On the other hand, multi-layered organization in some cases also brings certain advantages, as it allows for a wide space for the exchange of practices and experiences in similar administrations within the country, and the sharing of applicable solutions that have proven successful at one administrative level with others. We regularly monitor and report on the progress of the reform not only at the level of the institutions of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also at each administrative level individually”, stated Kasap and added that challenges are also present in the finances required for reform activities “where, on the one hand, financial autonomy in decision-making at the local level is required, but also harmonized financial management and guidance and alignment with the strategic goals of the entire country.
He pointed out the lack of finances, which often limits the possibilities of further digitalization and capacity building, and it is precisely investment in training local government employees and the expansion of e-government that are key factors in overcoming numerous challenges and improving the efficiency of administration and public services.
The panel included, in addition to the Coordinator for Public Administration Reform of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Adea Pirdeni, Minister of Public Administration and Anti-Corruption of Albania, Goran Mintcev, Minister of Local Self-Government of North Macedonia, Marash Dukaj, Minister of Public Administration of Montenegro, Elbert Krasniqi, Minister of Local Government and Administration of Kosovo, and Jovan Knežević, Assistant Minister of Public Administration of Serbia.
On the second day, the conference participants discussed regional cooperation and sustainable local development.