Kosovo municipalities oppose proposed public property law changes

Public Property Law municipalities property centralization Kosovo government legislative changes

Proposed amendments to the Public Property Law in Kosovo have sparked significant opposition from local governments. According to a draft obtained by Radio Evropa e Lirë (REL), the changes would designate the Republic of Kosovo as the sole owner of public property. Under this framework, municipalities, the capital, and other public enterprises would only hold rights to use, manage, and administer assets such as schools, medical centers, sports facilities, lands, and mountains.

The Association of Kosovo Municipalities has criticized the move as a trend toward the centralization of public property, warning it could fundamentally alter how local governments exercise their rights. Shaqir Totaj, Mayor of Prizren, stated that the change would strip municipalities of their competencies and rights regarding public property.

The Ministry of Justice is currently handling the amendments to the law, which was originally passed in 2023. While the Ministry confirmed the establishment of a working group to draft the amendments, it has not publicly released the draft or provided specific reasons for the legal shift.

Entities

Association of Kosovo Municipalities · Kosovo Agency of Statistics · Ministry of Justice · Ministry of Justice of Kosovo · Prizren · Republic of Kosovo · Shaqir Totaj

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Justice confirmed it has established a working group to draft the amendments to the Public Property Law. www.arbresh.info · ekonomiaonline.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Proposed changes to the Public Property Law would make the Republic of Kosovo the sole owner of public property. www.arbresh.info · ekonomiaonline.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Prizren Mayor Shaqir Totaj stated the changes would strip municipalities of their competencies and rights over public property. www.arbresh.info · ekonomiaonline.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The Association of Kosovo Municipalities views the changes as a trend toward the centralization of public property. www.arbresh.info · ekonomiaonline.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Under the draft, central institutions, municipalities, and public enterprises would only hold rights to use, manage, and administer property. www.arbresh.info · ekonomiaonline.com