Government approves 2015 budget
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
There will not be any salary increase in 2015, as it was promised during the election campaign by the former Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi. This was stated on Monday’s meeting of Kosovo Government, where the bill on 2015 budget was approved.
According to Minister of Finance Avdullah Hoti, this draft-budget does not include the salary increase of 25%, as former PM Hashim Thaçi had promised.
He added that differently from 2014, they will increase the incomes mainly by fighting informal economy and through collection of taxes.
MPs did not approve Assembly committees
(All monitored broadcasters, KTV)
Assembly of Kosovo failed to vote for Assembly committees that were proposed last week by the Assembly Presidency. MPs, including those of ruling and opposition parties, opposed the manner of committees’ division and the way how it would be voted for them.
As a result, 58 MPs voted in favour and 32 against, thus making it impossible for committees to pass on Monday’s session, as two-thirds of MPs were required.
Dissatisfied by division of Assembly committees, representatives of opposition parties said that Kosovo’s conquest is continuing with the PDK-LDK coalition.
Mogherini: Dialogue to resume in January
(Most monitored broadcasters, RTK2, Klan Kosova)
EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Federica Mogherini announced that Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, facilitated by her, will resume in January 2015.
According to Mogherini, the dialogue will continue after the celebration of the Orthodox Christmas, namely the 7th of January.
Serbia continues colonization of Kosovo north
(KTV)
Colonization of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë areas with Serbs did not finish in the 90s.Serbia is investing millions of Euros within the territory of Kosovo, through construction of collective buildings where it aims to bring in Serb citizens from different areas,KTV reported.
These buildings, which are being built in northern part of Mitrovica/Mitrovicë, are at their final stage, while all the funds for their construction come from Serbia. Their construction is being done illegally and by not respecting any Kosovo law.
Although legitimate municipal bodies were elected in the north, they continue to be dysfunctional.
Even the current buildings that are being constructed in the north with Serbia’s funds are being built up in properties which they buy from Albanians. Since the end of the conflict, Serbia has spent millions of Euros in Kosovo.
Judicial Council not functional
(Klan Kosova, KTV)
A number of important cases at the Court of Appeal are not expected to start until spring. The case of Prizren mayor, Ramadan Muja, is one of the cases that have reached this Court for a while now; however, its hearing will not be set for several more months. The reason for this is non-functionalization of the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) and lack of EULEX judges at this Court.
KJC is not operational since summer this year, when the mandate of its members expired. New members must pass at the Assembly of Kosovo.
Prizren mayor was found guilty in March and he was prohibited to exercise public functions for 30 months. If this verdict is confirmed, Prizren will enter extraordinary elections.
President of the Court of Appeal, Salih Mekaj, told KTV that Court’s work in general was hampered since June, when Kosovo did not have legislative and executive institutions for six months.
Gjilan/Gnjilane municipality to reward individuals that report corruption
(Klan Kosova)
Municipality of Gjilan/Gnjilane will reward between EUR 500 and EUR 2.000 to those that will report corruption cases. According to a municipality press release, this offer has been announced on Monday by the mayor Lutfi Haziri during a town hall meeting.
During this meeting Haziri also spoke with the citizens about challenges that the municipality faces, such as the inherited debts, contingent debts and mismanaged debts.
