Expenditures of the Government of Kosovo in mobile phone use in 2019

The use of mobile and landline telephones in central institutions is determined with Administrative Instruction No. 04/2008 approved by the Government of Kosovo. It defines the limits of these expenditures to allow for an execution of work and duties of officials in a regular and efficient manner. According to this instruction, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Secretary General of the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Chief of Cabinet of the Office of the Prime Minister are entitled to roaming charge coverage (use of mobile telephony abroad), which cost cover ranging from 150 to 250 Euro, depending on political post. On the other hand, landlines are provided to all institutional officials of the Government of Kosovo, and there 14 positions that are entitled to mobile phone top-ups, ranging from 20 to 70 Euro per month, depending on the position.

According to the financial report of the Ministry of Finance, in 2019, institutions of the Government of Kosovo have spent 2.8 million Euro on mobile phones. This is 481 thousand Euro (17.2%) less compared to the previous year.

Figure 1: Mobile telephony costs for all public institutions

Source: GAP Institute based on the data received from relevant institutions

GAP Institute has requested detailed data on mobile phone expenditures in 2019 from the Office of the Prime Minister and all ministries. In accordance with the Law on Access to Public Documents, our request was answered by a total of 17 ministries and the Office of the Prime Minister, of which the Ministry Communities and Returns, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Economic Development, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare provided data on ministry cabinets per month without personalizing them. the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Diaspora have not responded to our request.

The data of the 17 ministries and the Office of the Prime Minister, for 2019, indicate that around 167,376 Euro were spent in the use of mobile phones. Regarding these expenditures, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Regional Development rank first.

Figure 2: Expenditures of the political staff of ministries and the office of the Prime Minister for mobile phones in 2019

Source: GAP Institute based on the data received from relevant institutions

According to Article 5 of the Administrative Instruction, there is no limit to the expenses of the Prime Minister, while the Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers are allowed to spend 250 Euro per month for the use of phones abroad (roaming). Expenses of Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers from the ministries that provided answers to our request, in 2019, amount to 24,879 Euro. Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj exceeded the limit in March by 27.74 Euro, spending a total of 277.74 Euro. From the ranks of ministers, in 2019, Nenand Rikalo, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, exceeded the expense limit by 235 Euro in February, spending around 485 Euro; and Abelard Tahiri, Minister of Justice, who spent 271.26 Euro in August, and 275.48 Euro in September.

Figure 3: Expenditures of Deputy Prime Ministers in mobile phone use in 2019

Source: GAP Institute based on the data received from relevant institutions

Figure 4: Expenditures of Ministers in mobile phone use in 2019

Source: GAP Institute based on the data received from relevant institutions

Monthly cost of roaming charges allowed to a deputy minister is 150 Euro per month. In 2019, these expenses reached a total of around 35 thousand Euro.  Deputy ministers overspending in 2019 are: Jeton Emini, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, who exceeded the expenditures for seven months, the highest in May, with 196 Euro; Arbër Geci, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology, who exceeded expenditures in June by 93.74 Euro; Bujar Cakolli, Deputy Minister of Innovation, exceeding the costs in January by 57.40 Euro, and in February by 29.24 Euro.

Figure 5: Expenditures of Deputy Ministers in mobile phone use in 2019

Source: GAP Institute based on the data received from relevant institutions

Figure 6: Deputy ministers who exceeded the allowed expenses in 2019

Source: GAP Institute based on the data received from relevant institutions

In 2019, the position with the highest expenditures in mobile phone use is that of political advisors, with over 82 thousand Euro. They are followed by deputy ministers, with 35 thousand Euro, ministers with around 19 thousand Euro, followed by deputy prime ministers, chiefs of cabinets, and the Prime Minister.

Figure 7: Mobile phone expenses in 2019 based on positions

Source: GAP Institute based on the data received from relevant institutions

Here you can find an infographic presentation of mobile phone expenditures for the Office of the Prime Minister and 17 ministries in 2019 and the individual expenditures for all officials.