Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities

   

The Constitutional Court will review the procedure over the Regulation on municipal waste management



Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova



CALM at a Government meeting with the mayors: "We do not have time; we need concrete actions"

• 196 women mayors, which represents approx. 22% of the total number of elected mayors.
• 300 women elected as councillors of level II or 27% of the total.
• 3,823 women local councillors of level I or over 36% of the total number of councillors of level I.

European Union launches a new programme to support sustainable socio-economic development of Cahul municipality and neighboring localities

Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sustainable urban mobility in Travnik Municipality


 National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria

28 Bulgarian Municipalities Present their Potential as Part of the International Tourism Fair “Holiday & Spa Expo”

The 37th edition of the biggest tourism event in Bulgaria will be held from 13 to 15 February in Expo Centre Sofia. The forum gathers more than 300 tour operators, hoteliers, representatives of cultural institutions, diplomatic missions, municipalities, other companies, producers and suppliers of specialized equipment and software. This year over 60 destinations will be presented during the Expo. For the first time in "Holiday & SPA Expo" companies from Austria, Azerbaijan, France and Kenya will take part in the event.

The most popular Bulgarian destinations for cultural-historical and cognitive tourism will demonstrate their potential before the guests and participants in the forum. These are the municipalities of Veliko Tarnovo, Dryanovo, Elena, Etropole, Gabrovo, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Kazanlak, Lovech, Ruse, Sliven, Stara Zagora, Svilengrad and Troyan. The opportunities for winter sports and recreation in some of the best mountain resorts in Europe will be presented by the municipalities of Samakov, Bansko and Razlog. In this years’ edition Bulgarian seaside destinations and the wide range of opportunities to participate in cultural events, festivals and trips will be represented by Burgas, Primorsko, Tsarevo and Varna.

Bulgaria is among the leaders in Europe by number of mineral springs with medical purpose. This year the focus will be also on Balneo and SPA tourism, which is among the main accents in the presentations of municipalities of Hisarya, Kystendil, Mineralni Bani, Pavel Banya, Sandanski, Varshets and Velingrad. For a second consecutive year the specialized MEDICAL/SPA & SPA CORNER is organized in partnership with the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa tourism.

The National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria and its company NAMRB – Activ will participate in the Expo for the first time this year. The Association will present the Local Authorities Training Centre and the hotel complex "Gergini".
 
New Tools for Civic Participation
Last week, the National day of citizens’ participation and Expo was held in Sofia. Under the title “Access for Citizens”, the Forum welcomed over 100 participants, representatives of the central government, municipalities, civic organizations, networks and coalitions from all over the country.

The main focus of the discussions were the challenges and opportunities before institutions and citizens interaction and good governance at local level. The Mayor of Elena, Mr. Dilyan Mlazev made an overview of citizens’ participation and good practices in the municipalities which have been part of the good governance process for many years.

Some of the most interesting practices of civic participation were the Ordinance for conducting public consultations, elaborated by Sofia Municipality in close cooperation with the Bulgarian Centre for Not-for-Profit Law. It creates a mechanism for effectively involving citizens in local decision-making processes with a focus on public consultation as an open governance tool. The other good practice was the establishment of municipal funds in partnership with Agora Platform that support local initiatives in nine municipalities. These instruments provide for citizens’ involvement in solving long-term problems in the community. As a result of the cooperation between the public institutions and non-profit organizations the project CONSUL was established – the biggest project for digital democracy.

CONSUL is a digital open source platform for civic participation and is one of the most frequently used instrument in the world, covering more than 130 public administrations. The platform consists of modules, designed to support all processes, ensuring the civic participation and democracy: civic initiatives, participatory budgeting, legislation drafting through consultation and debates, collaborative planning and consultation through voting. The versatility of the platform makes it easier for public authorities to launch citizen involvement processes by opening up new channels for participation.

The Civic Participation Forum and the Bulgarian Centre for Not-for-Profit Law proposed that these instruments can be adapted and made available to 7 pilot municipalities free of charge through the “Access for Citizens” project.

Rousse Municipality will Provide Composter Bins for all Households
The municipality of Rousse has planned 25 000 BGN in its 2020 budget for purchasing domestic composters, which will be distributed free of charge to households in small settlements. The main goal of the initiative is to prove that waste is a resource, which can become a useful material.

Composting at home is often considered the most environmentally friendly way to deal with domestic biodegradable waste. Nearly two-thirds of the garbage generated at the households consists of organic components that degrade naturally. The municipality is about to specify the number of composters to be purchased and is currently preparing the application conditions and criteria for citizens to obtain a composter bin.

Burgas Municipality Creates Opportunities for New Investments in Tourism and Balneology
Recently the state transferred the management of local mineral springs to Burgas municipality and now the local authorities are searching for various sources of financing and opportunities for prudent utilization of this valuable resource.

The implementation of the project "Construction of water supply network for mineral waters" has significantly improved the services for transfer and delivery of water to existing and future centres for rehabilitation and balneotherapy.

The new underground supply network will also provide water for maintaining the municipal swimming pool. It also unlocks the possibility of realizing the next stage in the development of the mineral baths and tourist complex "Aquae Calidae". Burgas Municipality already provided the necessary financing and this year began to build a new exposition and demonstration centre with a museum part and a Replica of a Roman bath.


 

Association of Communes of Romania

The Romanian communes involved in the afforestation program proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests
On 15 January, 2020, a delegation composed by mayors of communes, members of the Association of Communes of Romania, attended the meeting with the Minister of Environment, Water and Forests, Mr. Costel ALEXE.

The main topic of the meeting was the afforestation program proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests. Some of the modalities of collaboration with ACoR representatives have been identified in order to increase the forest areas at national level. One of the ways of increasing the areas occupied by forests is the afforestation of degraded lands in order to protect the soil, to restore the hydrological balance and to improve the environmental conditions.

During the meeting were discussed the problems encountered by the communes in Romania: landslides; the practicable forest roads, which the local authorities can maintain if they are taken in the administration of the commune; bureaucracy and very cumbersome procedures for obtaining environmental permits; irrigation channels in comparison, those being a real danger to communities and the selective collection of waste.

The mayor of Cumpăna commune, Mrs. Mariana GÂJU, member and Rapporteur on the Committee for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE Commission) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), said that additional investments are needed in order for Romania to achieve EU targets adopted in Paris and underlined the need for investments in biogas stations, producing energy and contributing to the reduction of the quantities of waste in the rural area.

Also, during the meeting the President of the ACoR, Mr. Emil DRĂGHICI, entrusted to Minister Costel ALEXE all the support of the Association in this endeavour and proposed the conclusion of a partnership agreement between the Association of Communes of Romania and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests for a closer collaboration and consultation between local and central public authorities.

The Association of Communes of Romania through its members, wishes to be actively involved in this program. ACoR members are aware of the importance of such program for the improvement of the lands degraded by erosion, sliding, sanding, with excess of humidity or water deficit on the territorial surface of the communes, as well as the importance of forests as a resource for a sustainable society.

ACoR took part at the Eastern Partnership meeting - opportunities for collaboration between local authorities
On 22-23 January 2020, representatives of local authorities and their associations met in Tours, France, to discuss what will happen with the Eastern Partnership after 2020.
Thus, Mayors of communes and cities from France, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine and Poland, discussed the current state of achievement of the objectives proposed by the Eastern Partnership, as well as the challenges that local and regional authorities will have in the next period and about their role in the Partnership.

The Association of Communes of Romania was represented at the meeting by Mrs. Mariana GÂJU, the Mayor of Cumpăna commune, Constanța county, First Vice-President of ACoR, Vice-President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CCRE/CEMR) and Mr. Adrian MIROIU-LAMBA, the Deputy Director of ACoR.

On the first day of the meeting, Mrs. Mariana GÂJU emphasized the usefulness of the twinning between the local authorities in fulfilling the objectives of the Eastern Partnership, the need to support Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia in their intentions of integration in the European Union, the need to continue the collaboration between the associations of local and regional authorities from these countries, as well as the full support of the Association of Communes of Romania for the efforts made by the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova for a real autonomy of the local public administration.

On the second day of the event, the participants paid a working visit to the household waste treatment station in the metropolis of Orleans, France.

Local and regional authorities from the Euro-Mediterranean area met in Barcelona, Spain
The 11th Plenary Session of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) took place from 22-23 January 2020,  in Barcelona, Spain. The Association of Communes of Romania was represented at the event by Mr. Emil DRĂGHICI, ACoR’s President, Mayor of Vulcana-Băi commune, ARLEM member and by Mrs. Corina-Alexandra GHEORGHE, ACoR’s International Relations Officer.

ARLEM was established in 2010 by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), together with the territorial associations active in this field, allowing the elected representatives from the three shores of the Mediterranean Sea:

-to speak on behalf of local and regional authorities at political level, including in the relation with the EU and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM);
- to maintain the political dialogue;
- to promote interregional cooperation.

ARLEM members adopted the action plan for the next term, recommendations, as well as the timetable for ARLEM activities during the following year. The Assembly also decided on the themes and rapporteurs for 2020.

In addition, the plenary session adopted the two draft ARLEM report: On the blue economy for local and regional authorities in the Mediterranean region, by Mr. Vincenzo BIANCO (IT-PSE), member of the Council of Catania, Italy and on regional integration in the Mediterranean Sea, by Mrs. Jeanad KAIR, Mayor of Beit Sahour, Palestine.
Also, during the plenary session the winner of the ARLEM 2020 award has been nominated.
 
ACoR’s First Vice-President Mrs. Mariana GÂJU, elected for the Vice-President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CCRE/CEMR)
During the Policy Committee meeting of the Council of the European Municipalities and Regions - CCRE / CEMR, organized in Orleans, France, from 23-24 January, 2020, Mrs. Mariana GÂJU, Mayor of Cumpăna commune, Constanța County, First Vice-President of ACoR and the President of Constanta County Branch of ACoR, was elected, for the second time, Vice-President of the CCRE /CEMR for the region of South-East Europe.

The members of the Board of Directors appreciated the activity of the Vice-President, Mrs. Mariana GÂJU during the three years of her term, her involvement in the activities of the CCRE/CEMR and the efforts made to support and promote local autonomy, gender equality in the political life and twinning between the local authorities in Europe, granting her a new term of 3 years.

Mrs. Mariana GÂJU also held, in the period 2013-2016, a mandate of Vice-President of the CCRE /CEMR, non-member of the Executive Bureau, and for the period 2016-2019 she was elected Vice-President with full rights in the Executive Bureau of the CCRE/CEMR, an honourable and important function from the point of view of the representativeness of the communes of Romania and of the Association of Communes of Romania (ACoR).

After 7 years of activity in the CCRE/CEMR, Mrs. Mariana GÂJU continues to be, at European level, a strong voice of the local authorities in Romania. Mr. Sergiu ȚÂRA, the Executive President of AcoR and Mr. Adrian MIROIU-LAMBA, the Deputy General Director of AcoR, attended the event along with the Vice-President, Mrs. Mariana GÂJU.

Meeting of the AcoR’s delegation with the Minister of Public Finance
On 27 January 2020, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Public Finance, was held the meeting of the delegation of the Association of Communes of Romania (ACoR) with the Minister of Public Finance, Mr. Vasile-Florin CÎȚU.

The delegation of ACoR was headed by Mr. Emil DRĂGHICI, The President of ACoR and was composed by mayors of the communes, members of the Association.

The meeting aimed mainly at analysing the relations between the Association of Communes of Romania and the Ministry of Public Finance, and a very important attention was paid to the mechanism of balancing the local budgets.

Exchange of good practices between the Association of Communes of Romania and the Austrian Association of Municipalities
A delegation of the Association of Communes of Romania paid a working visit in the Republic of Austria, at the invitation of the Community Federation of the Republic of Austria (Gemeindebund Osterreich), on 27-31 January, 2020. The invitation was made following the visit of the Austrian delegation (Gemeindebund Osterreich), in May 2019, in Mărăcineni commune, Argeș County, Romania.

On this occasion, His Excellency, Mr. Bogdan MAZURU, the Ambassador of Romania in the Republic of Austria, received on January 30, the delegations of the Association of Communes of Romania and of the Austrian Association of Municipalities, led by their Presidents, Mr. Emil DRĂGHICI and Mr. Alfred RIEDL. The discussion highlighted the interesting aspects of the cooperation of the two organizations, with a special emphasis being placed on both the Romanian and the Austrian side on digitization, respectively on the introduction of the broadband internet in the rural area and the computerization of the local administrations, especially of their interaction with the citizens. His Excellency, the Ambassador Bogdan MAZURU underlined the importance of such exchanges of experience at the level of the local authorities for the Romanian-Austrian bilateral relations.

The visit also led to an open dialogue and exchange of good practices with the mayors of Mittersill, Schwanenstadt and Grafenwörth.
At the invitation of Mr. Hans STEINER, Mayor of Mittersill, the delegation visited Hohe Tauern National Park, one of the largest nature reservations and discussed how local authorities work in managing this natural heritage of Austria.

In Schwanenstadt, ACoR members were welcomed by the Mayor of the city, Mr. Karl STAUDINGER and by Mr. Hans HINGSAMER, the President of the Association of Municipalities of Upper Austria. On this occasion, they visited the most modern school centre in which learn also 10 Romanian children. A good example of sustainability due to the efficient and intelligent use of energy, this school centre being energy self-sufficient.

An example of good practices in waste management was provided by the mayor of Grafenwörth and the President of the Austrian Association of Municipalities, Mr. Alfred RIEDL, by inviting them to see how selective waste collection is done in his community.



The delegation of the Association of Communes of Romania was composed by Mr. DRĂGHICI, ACoR’s President, the Mayor of  Vulcana-Băi commune, Dâmbovița County, 4 Mayors of communes members of ACoR and by 2 members of the executive apparatus of the Association, Mr. Sergiu ȚÂRA, the Executive President of ACoR and Mrs. Corina-Alexandra GHEORGHE, International Relations Officer of ACoR.

 

Marmara Municipalities Union

The Management Development Centre (MDC), founded by Marmara Municipalities Union (MMU) has started its activities with a conference on 14 January 2020.
MMU opened its new centre, MDC, with the aim of upgrading the skills of the employees working in local governments in order to support them for transforming their institutions to catch up with their counterparts in the world and to provide better services to the citizens.

In the opening speech of the inaugural conference, MMU Secretary General M. Cemil Arslan said that “We value knowledge and we have established a center which is eager to consider any knowledge irrespective of identity of the producer of that knowledge. We would like to establish an open, prolific, knowledge-based system which takes into account relations among different disciplines and discusses matters on the local level. For a healthy, safe, clean city which offers high quality of life, an active and efficient local governance is needed. Under the roof of this centre, we will support local governments with our democratic and transparent studies.”

After the opening speech, Mr. Bekir Ağırdır, the Executive Director of KONDA Research Centre, gave a talk titled “Metropoles and New Local Governance.” Mr. Ağırdır stressed that “Today, institutions’ expectation from the administrators is not only that they are to know and apply the regulations. Instead, it is expected that administrators display an ability to notice the latest developments in the world and the opportunities for cities with a broader perspective; to determine their institutions’ strategies, values and approaches accordingly; to apply them and spread them among their teams.”

The centre will support institutional capacity building activities of local governments. Within the centre, activities such as trainings, research, experience sharing meetings, workshops, panels, symposiums and conferences will be carried out to improve the management systems of institutions by bringing together academicians and practitioners.


 

 Association of Kosovo Municipalities


Association of Kosovo municipalities co-funds four municipal innovative projects in the field of energy efficiency
Under the organization of the Association of Kosovo Municipalities, a meeting was held with Municipal Energy Managers and Officers, were representatives of the Kosovo Energy Efficiency Agency, Kosovo Energy Efficiency Fund and GIZ representatives participated.

At this meeting, Municipal Energy Managers were also briefed on the launched project of Association of Kosovo Municipalities with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, where the main purpose of the Project is to support municipalities to implement Energy Efficiency policies at local level. This support will be done through strengthening the AKM Training Centre and structured trainings for Municipal Energy Managers and co-financing of innovative projects with municipalities.
Presentations in the meeting:

- Summary of activities for 2019 in the field of Energy Efficiency and expectations for 2020,
- Opportunities for municipalities to apply for the Kosovo Energy Efficiency Fund,
- Summary of GIZ activities in the field of EE for 2019 and plans for 2020,
- Information on the new AKM project with GIZ in the field of Energy Efficiency.

The opening and moderation of the meeting was done by Mr. Afrim Prokshi, Chairperson of the Energy Efficiency Working Group, who after welcoming the participants, in particular thanked AKM for the cooperation and the work done so far on energy efficiency. Among other things Mr. Prokshi stated that without the AKM's assistance this initiative would be impossible to organize and concretize.

Mr. Sazan Ibrahimi, Executive Director of AKM thanked the participants for their participation and briefly elaborated on the project in question. He informed those present that the Association of Kosovo Municipalities is already a member of the Energy Efficiency Board. He also explained that GIZ and AKM work very closely together on different projects. He said that this is an initial project and it also depends on the capacities of the municipalities to be able to absorb those funds that will be offered in the future and for that we will increase the capacities of the municipalities through the Training Centre.

Director of the Kosovo Energy Efficiency Agency Mr. Arsim Kuliqi said that as an Agency in the beginning they have faced many challenges. Challenges mainly consisted of monitoring projects in municipalities. Although according to Mr. Kuliqi, municipalities have drafted Efficiency Action Plans, but a real challenge is the incomplete nomination of municipal managers for energy management. Otherwise the Agency has funds to support municipalities for energy management, municipalities are encouraged to apply for these funds. On the other hand, he requested from AKM to insist on municipalities necessarily having to appoint a municipal official in the field of energy.

Project Coordinator with GIZ Mr. Arsim Osmani elaborated on the project that AKM in co-financing with GIZ is realizing where it was emphasized that this seven month project will focus on support and capacity building of municipalities to improving the overall municipal energy management system in the context of implementing the Law on Energy Efficiency and creating success models.

Mr. Osmani explained to the participants that all municipalities of Kosovo have the opportunity and right to apply in this call, and the four municipalities with the most creative and innovative ideas will be selected based on the criteria set by the Project.

In the second part of the meeting debates were held between the municipalities and the representatives of the institutions, where the municipal officials expressed their satisfaction with this process and the opportunities being offered to the municipalities. According to them, this complex project with capacity building and co-financing of projects represents a novelty for Kosovo municipalities.
 
The Collegium of European Integration engaged to fulfil European agenda 2020
The meeting of the Collegium of Officers for European Integration aimed to review the work plan and define activities within the coordination and development activity of the Collegium.

The opening and moderation of the meeting was done by Mrs. Ajshe Berveniku, Chairperson of this Collegium. At the beginning of the meeting Mr. Gani Berisha, AKM Program Manager informed the members of the Collegium for European Integration about the work done in the past year, respectively on the concrete activities that took place in 2019. The officials were also informed about the challenges and the achievements of AKM which have been made together with the Municipalities over the past year.
The Chairperson, Mrs. Ajshe Berveniku, during the review of the 2020 work plan informed the Municipal Officers on the fulfilment of the previous plan and they jointly agreed on the activities and work expectation of this Collegium for this year. Members of the Collegium were coordinated to share their experiences together this year as well, so that their work can be as efficient as possible.

In addition, Mrs. Berveniku elaborated on the activities that municipalities have done, respectively Municipal Offices for European Integration, as well as the challenges they faced in carrying out their work.

Mrs. Manushaqe Mucaj - representative from the Ministry of Local Government Administration (MLGA) spoke on the issue of fulfilling the European agenda 2019 at local level. The reports made by the municipalities were mentioned, which will be shared with the municipalities after being reviewed once again by the MLGA in order for the final document to be approved.

Municipal Integration Officers proposed that municipal individual reports be published on the websites of the respective municipalities in order to better inform citizens about the activities of their municipalities in fulfilling the European agenda.  
 
Collegium of Education opposes the Administrative Instruction 15/2019 of the Ministry of Education
The Collegium of Education held its first meeting for 2020, where the Chairperson of the Collegium Mr. Besim Avdimetaj in cooperation with the Municipal Education Directors discussed the Work Plan as well as defining activities within the coordination and development of the Collegium's activity.

Even on this occasion, the Collegium of Education of the Association of Kosovo Municipalities, unanimously opposed and considered the Administrative Instruction 15/2019 for municipalities unacceptable - for the duties, responsibilities, procedures and criteria for the selection of the Director and Deputy - Director of Pre-university Education and Training Public Institution. 

The Collegium of Education is also supported by the Swiss Caritas, where at this meeting they were informed by the representative of this organization, Mrs. Krenare Lleshi about the future stages of the project ' SHPRESË ', in cooperation with the Kosovo Pedagogical Institute.

Whereas Mr. Ismet Potera from PIK informed the participants about the activities of the Institute and the trainings that will be provided for the representatives of the municipalities where he also expressed willingness to assist the municipalities on the issue of performance evaluation in schools.

On the other hand, the challenges in the municipal education process remain the same for all municipalities, where a number of issues were mentioned once again, which hinder the proper development of the teaching process in the municipalities.

Municipalities still face problems arising from the Collective Contract, and from the ongoing budgetary threats to municipalities when it comes to expenditures resulting from Jubilee salaries, meals required for teachers and transportation, all of these actions which are required by the Collective Agreement to be covered by the municipalities, which implies additional budgetary implications for the municipalities.

The issue of substitutions for teachers with serious health problems and the issue of maternity leave also continues to be problematic.
Members of the AKM Collegium for Education pledged that even in 2020 they will contribute, in order that pre-university education in the municipalities can flow in a more advanced manner.
 
Discussion of improving wastewater management through building and operation of new treatment plants 
The Association of Kosovo Municipalities, partner of the project Regional Capacity Development Network (RCDN) organized a meeting with the Working Group of Municipal Waste Management Officers (MWMO).

At this meeting it was discussed about the improvement of wastewater management through the operation of Wastewater Treatment and Purification implants.

On the occasion of the unveiling of the initiative and the exchange of good practices between the Municipalities through the AKM forums, the Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of South Mitrovica Mr. Faruk Mujka explained that the Project Implementation will bring significant environmental benefits to local water resources, with the aim of renewing and expanding the wastewater network, and building a new plant to collect and treat wastewater in accordance with relevant environmental standards of the EU.

Mr. Naser Muja - Director of Public Services in the Municipality informed that through this project it is expected to increase the number of connections to the sewage network and achieve compliance with EU environmental standards in wastewater treatment, reducing largely untreated sewage volumes and respective pollution loads, which are discharged directly into the river.

Whereas Mr. Fisnik Ibrahimi official in DPS, as well as Mr. Xhevat Smajli - (Regional Water and Waste Company RWWC) provided technical clarifications regarding the construction phases which are expected to provide significant environmental and health benefits compared to the existing situation, by improving the wastewater management services in the Municipality of Mitrovica.

Through the development of wastewater collection and the new wastewater treatment plant any negative impacts are expected to be temporarily localized, as well as prevented or mitigated by adhering to good construction practices.

For the purpose of raising awareness and the importance of wastewater treatment, field expert Mr. Arben Hoti explained the importance and benefits of wastewater treatment in improving the environment and improving the situation regarding drinking water and wastewater. Therefore, also the commitment of Municipalities should be a priority in order to achieve a higher level of wastewater treatment in order to protect water quality.
 
The Collegium for Inspection meets to discuss the regulation of municipal inspection activities 
The first meeting of the Collegium for Inspection was held this year under the auspices of the Association of Kosovo Municipalities. The Chairman of the Collegium Mr. Islam Thaçi in cooperation with the Municipal Directors for Inspection discussed the Work Plan as well as the definition of activities within the coordination and development of the Collegium's activity.

Again, the Collegium for Inspection specified that the challenges in the inspection process remain the same for all municipalities, where a number of issues which hamper the proper development of the inspection process and procedures in the municipalities were mentioned once again.

An important issue remains the review of the Draft Law on Inspections, which based on the experiences so far, this way of organizing has proved to be ineffective, therefore it is necessary to regulate the legal basis, hierarchical organization with a clear mandate for responsibility at work.

It was very important to regulate the inspection activity in the municipalities without forgetting to find a mechanism that regulates the way of cooperation and coordination of inspectorates in different areas.

On the other hand, Mr. Adrian Prenkaj from the LARP-GIZ program, informed on the support of the municipal authorities in increasing the capacity of the inspectorate to impose mandatory fines in accordance with the law. This will be achieved through various capacity building measures, such as trainings, workshops, and training and mentoring activities by experts in the field.

The program will be implemented during March-2020 to March-2021 and will be divided into two parts: 1. Two-day general training on administrative procedure and minor offense procedure;

2. Specific training and mentoring activities for a number of up to 8 municipalities in the field of environmental planning.

The program will be implemented in cooperation with the Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKM) and the MMS / GIZ project. GIZ will announce the public call for municipalities to apply for participation in this program.
 
AKM organized a conference to promote the municipal model regulations
On the occasion of the successful completion of the work and engagement of the Collegium of Legal Officers in cooperation with other Collegiums and partners in this joint venture, the Association of Kosovo Municipalities has published the Municipal Model Regulations document.

This publication is a spirit of joint work and collaboration with partners such as the OSCE, who have expressed a willingness to organize and fund regular meetings and workshops.

The summary includes models of various regulations such as:
• Model Tax Regulation (Explanatory Guide to the Model Tax Regulation);
• Model regulations for municipal public services;
• Model Regulations for Document Management Unit and Office Work;
• Model Regulation on the Placement, Construction and Removal of Temporary Buildings on Public Property.

In his speech, AKM Executive Director Sazan Ibrahimi once again expressed his gratitude for the work and commitment of legal officers in cooperation with other colleges, central institutions and partnership with the OSCE. This assessment is also a reflection of the work of the Professional Collegiums in meeting the predetermined objectives, with the aim of improving the services and lives of its citizens.

This successful engagement has also made the international recognition of the role of the AKM, which has prompted the response of the Congress of the Council of Europe's Local Authorities, to draft an Assessment Report on the work and engagement of the Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKM).