Support to EU Integration Reform Processes
PROJECT NAME:
Support to EU Integration Reform Processes
SECTOR:
Rule of law
PROJECT VALUE:
EUR 13,000,000 Co-funded by: European Comission; 6,000,000.00 Germany Federal Government: 7,000,000.00
DURATION:
Starting date: 01.03.2021 Final date: 30.09.2026
IMPLEMENTING PARTNER:
GIZ, Technical Module “Support to EU Integration Reform Processes in Kosovo”
DIRECT BENEFICIARY:
Office of the Prime Minister
COVERAGE/IMPACT:
EU integration, Stratetic Planning and Financial Management, Access to justice, Enforcement, Administrative Burden Reduction and Digitalization
OVERALL OBJECTIVE:
The public administration is strengthened to implement EU related reforms in selected areas
PROJECT PURPOSES:
To strengthen the public administration to implement EU-related reforms and preventing/reducing the administrative burden in selected areas.
ACTIVITIES:
1.1. Implementation of coordination meetings between the Prime Minister's office, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant actors as well as their advice on the integration of budget and strategic planning. 1.2. Implementation of measures to strengthen control of the receipt of payment obligations in the Ministry of Finance. 1.3. Provision of expertise for SAA implementation for specialist ministries.\ 1.4. Monitoring and reporting by the Ministry for European Integration on SAA progress 1.5. Consolidation of administrative regulations for adapted policies with responsible ministries. 2.1. Further training and advice to the tax administration to strengthen the fair and effective implementation of tax obligations (e.g. on risk assessment, tax audits, services). 2.2. Training and advice to strengthen the tax administration's investigative unit for tax crimes. 2.3. Organizational advice for the training unit in the tax administration. 2.4. Advice to relevant ministries on enforcement by bailiffs. 3.1. Advice on organizational development of the agency for free legal advice. 3.2. Implementation of information events for the rural population for free legal advice and its further establishment in rural communities. 3.3. Advice to the relevant contact points (including AFLA, police) on setting up a uniform support structure for victims of domestic violence, including advice on economic empowerment of victims. 4.1. Advice on improving the enforcement of environmental law (e.g. clear distribution of roles with regard to investigations and decisions). 4.2. Implementation of information events for the population and administration with regard to environmental issues 4.3. Develop peer-to-peer formats to expand approaches at community level. 4.4. Implementation of advanced training for environmental inspectors. 5a.1. Technical advice and organisational support to selected government institutions for strengthening their digital competences, processes and systems for administrative burden prevention and reduction by implementing international good practices of digital services, including the once-only principle, open-data or pro-active service delivery. 5a.2. Technical assistance to OPM Legal Department and Strategic Planning Office and others, as needed, for implementing deregulatory administrative burden reduction approaches 5b.1. Technical assistance for capacity building and training of 1000 public officials in partnership with local training institutions, such as the Kosovo Institute of Public Administration and the Academy of Justice, as relevant, with a goal to prevent and reduce the administrative burden 5b.2. Technical assistance to support the public institutions co-ordinating the administrative burden prevention and reduction agenda in awareness raising, visibility and in managing the processes and networks for implementing planned activities 5c.1. Conducting technical analysis and feasibility study at border crossing points targeted by the action. Drafting needs assessment, market analysis and technical specifications and other relevant document; 5c.2. Delivery and installation of X-ray scanners; 5c.3. Implementation of the specialised training by the authorised trainers, along with the standard operating procedure.
RESULTS:
Project Outcomes and Indicators Outome Indicator 1: Three line ministries or subordinate institutions have each implemented six measures of a harmonised policy in coordination with the Office of the Prime Minister Outcome Indicator 2: The Tax Administration Office improved by one point in the performance area "Effective risk management" in dimension P2-5 and "Timely submission of tax returns" in dimension P4-10. Outcome Indicator 3: The number of free legal assistance for women and men in rural areas provided by the Agency for Free Legal Aid has increased to 1600 per year (of which 800 came from women). Outcome Indicator 4:The enforcement rate of fines for violations of environmental law has increased to 80%. Outcome Indicator 5a: The score in the OECD/SIGMA report (The Principles of Public Administration) for the dimension ‘Citizen-oriented service delivery’ is increased from composite score 2 (2021) to composite score 4 (2025). Outcome Indicator 5b: Percentage of women and men who have ever used the e-Kosova platform, disaggregated by gender is increased from 69% (67% of women and 70% of men (2022)) to 80% (80% of women and 80% of men (2025)). Project Outputs and Indicators Output 1: The prerequisites for aligning policy implementation with the Stabilisation and Association Agreement are improved o Output Indicator 1.1: Five line ministries or subordinate institutions have each implemented nine measures of a harmonised policy in coordination with OPM, which contributes to Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) implementation. o Output Indicator 1.2: Three measures regarding commitment control have been implemented by public administration, as a prerequisite for realistic budget planning of SAA implementation policies. Output 2: The conditions for administrative enforcement are improved in selected areas o Output Indicator 2.1: Five measures of the Report on improving the performance of the Tax Investigation Department have been implemented. o Output Indicator 2.2: Eight dialogue forums were held between administrative authorities and the Chamber of Private Enforcement Agents in order to strengthen the enforcement of administrative acts. Output 3: Access to justice for citizens with low income is improved o Output Indicator 3.1: The number of free legal aid offices in rural areas, especially for women with experiences regarding domestic violence, has increased from 14 to 25 o Output Indicator 3.2: An integrated system for reporting cases of domestic violence, which shall be used by all focal points (e.g. police, AFLA, VAAO), is in place. Output 4: Conditions for the implementation of environmental law are improved. o Output Indicator 4.1: 65 % of environmental inspections foreseen in the inspection plan were conducted according to it. o Output Indicator 4.2: Seven peer-to-peer formats for environmental inspectors were conducted with various relevant stakeholders (national and local). Output 5a: improve the capacities of the public administration to systematically review and subsequently abolish administrative burdens from existing legislation and prevent them from appearing in new legislation, as well as assist in delivering digital solutions. o Output indicator 5a.1: Number of data sharing projects implementing the once-only principle rise from 0 (2022) to 4 (2025) o Output indicator 5a.2: Number of projects implementing life-event services rise from 0 (2022) to 1 (2025) o Output indicator 5a.3: The legal framework establishing licenses and permits of eight institutions with regulatory functions analysed and recommendations for legal amendments for the reduction of administrative burden implemented, from 0 (2022) to 110 (2025) Output 5b: improve the co-ordination across the government to ensure concrete progress on the reform o Output indicator 5b.1: Number of trained officials on modular Administrative Burden Reduction Toolbox, including gender-responsive ICT policies and disaggregated by gender, from 0 (2022) to 1000 (2025) o Output indicator 5b.2: Number of trained officials working in the Information Technology positions trained in ITIL from 0 (2022) to 50 (2025) o Output indicator 5b.3: Government approved administrative burden reduction planning document implemented at least 60 % (2025) Output 5c. Delivery and installation of X-ray scanners, along with specialised training and standard operating procedures. o Output indicator 5c.1: Number of preliminary and preparatory analysis including needs assessment, market research and technical specifications; o Output indicator 5c2: Number of X-ray scanners delivered, installed and operating. o Output indicator 5c.3 Number of staff trained. o Output indicator 5c.4 Number of standard operating procedure drafted and implemented.