Special case of Kosovo Unitary state

Structures and competences

Local level :

38 municipalities (Komunë in Albanian and Opstina in Serbian) and 1,285 villages (fshat /selo)

The municipal assembly (Kuvendi I Komunës in Albanian and Skupstina Opstine in Serbian) is the highest representative and decision-making body of the municipality consisting of all its elected members. The members of the municipal assembly are directly elected for a four-year term. The number of members of the municipal assembly varies from 15 to 51 depending on the size of the municipality.

The mayor (Kryetar/GradonaAcelnik) is the highest executive body of the municipality and is elected through direct elections. The mayor of the municipality shall be elected for the same term of office as the members of the municipal assembly. The elected office of the mayor is not subject to term limits.

The villages (fshat) are registered as cadastral zones. Each municipality regulates the division of its suburbs.

There are three types of municipal competences: own competences, delegated competences and enhanced competences.

OWN COMPETENCES

• Local economic development
• Urban and rural planning
• Land use and development
• Implementation of building regulations and building control standards
• Local environmental protection
• Provision and maintenance of public services and utilities, including: water supply, sewers and drains, sewage treatment, waste management, local roads, local transport, and local heating scheme
• Local emergency response
• Provision of public pre-primary, primary and secondary education
• Promotion and protection of human rights
• Provision of family and other social welfare services
• Public housing
• Public health

DELEGATED COMPETENCES

• Cadastral records
• Civil registrar
• Voter registration
• Business registration and licensing
• Distribution of social assistance payments (excluding pensions)
• Forestry protection on the municipal territory

ENHANCED MUNICIPAL COMPETENCES

Certain municipalities have their own competences enhanced in the areas of health, education and cultural affairs and have a participatory right in selecting local station police commanders.

Central authorities of Kosovo* monitor the exercise of enhanced competences.

• Secondary health care: the municipalities of Mitrovica North, Gracanica, and Shtërpcë / Štrpce)
• Higher education: the municipality of Mitrovica North
• Cultural affairs: all municipalities in which the Kosovar Serb Community is in the majority Central authorities in Kosovo* may delegate other competences to municipalities, as appropriate, in accordance with the law.

Villages, Settlements and Urban Quarters

Each municipality may make arrangements with villages, settlements and urban quarters within its territory to ensure that services are offered closer to all citizens of the municipality.

With the approval of the municipality, villages, settlements and urban quarters, singly or in combination, may carry out activities that are within the responsibilities and powers of the municipality.

The statute and local municipal regulations shall stipulate the form of cooperation between the municipality and villages, settlements and urban quarters and the scope of the work and organisation of villages, settlements and urban quarters.

*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation’s Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.