Eleven necessary decisions for the new Government

16/12/2014

In order to control the expenditures of public money by members of the new government cabinet, GAP and GLPS require from the new Prime Minister Mustafa to undertake eleven immediate decisions

 GAP Institute and Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS) express their deep concern with the size of the new government cabinet, with three deputy prime ministers, 21 ministers, over 50 deputy ministers, 170 political advisors and tens of employees in the cabinets with drivers is unreasonable and extremely unnecessary for the good governance of Kosovo.

 In July this year GAP had suggested that the new government has to be comprised of 13 ministries only. Moreover, GAP and GLPS, only few days before the Assembly’s constitution presented a proposal for the new governing plan, and called upon the new government to have a smaller number of ministries and other associated posts.

A government cabinet with a smaller number of ministerial posts was suggested during election campaign by the party ruling in the new government. This government will undoubtedly remain in everyone’s mind as the biggest government in Kosovo’s history (at least so far).

A big number of ministerial posts is not necessary and will incur excessive budgetary costs.

GAP and GLPS, noting the lack of obvious will by Prime minister Isa Mustafa to establish a smaller government with less ministerial posts, require from the new government to, at least undertake measures to place under control and make the necessary transparence of public money expenditure and the use of public assets by ministers, deputy ministers, political advisors and other members of ministries.

In order to ensure transparency and control on the way how public money is being spent, we require from Prime Minister Mustafa to undertake the following steps which will enable us to monitor the ministers’ activities:

 1.   The Prime Minister has to make public decisions for the nominations of all deputy ministers

2.   Publication of government decisions for the salary scale of the Prime minister, deputy Prime Ministers, ministers, deputy ministers and political advisors.

3.   Approval of draft law for the salaries of senior public officials;

4.   Keeping and making public the log/record regarding the use of official vehicles, as required by Administrative Instruction 03/2008 on the use of official vehicles. The record shall be updated every month and public data should consist of: name of the public official using the official vehicle, kilometers made, the amount of the fuel spent, type of vehicle, and the registration plates of the vehicle in use. In addition, the entire database for official vehicles should be made public as foreseen by Article 14 of the Administrative Instruction 03/2008.

5.   The Ministry of Public Administration should complete the project initiated years ago to install the GPS in all public vehicles. Data gathered through the GPS should be accessible to public, through the Record on Use of Official Vehicles.

6.   Until the 15th of each following month (the latest), all detailed data regarding the costs incurred during the use of mobile phones by each minister, deputy minister, political advisors, deputy prime ministers and prime minister should be made public. Keeping such a record is an obligation deriving from Article 11, Administrative Instruction 04/2008 on the use of telephones (landline and mobile phones) in the Government of Kosovo. In addition, the Government should keep the record for the type of mobile phones and their purchasing price and make it public, as foreseen by Administrative Instruction 04/2008.

7.   Until the 15th of each following month (the latest), to publish the costs record of previous month for official lunches, for all political individuals enjoying such right according to the Article 5, Administrative Instruction 01/2008 on determining the cost of representation for Officials of Government Institutions.

8.   Until the 15th of each following month (the latest), the Government shall make public the register on the use of credit cards by the members of government cabinet. The same should be subject for audit by the Office of General Auditor.

9.   The Government of Kosovo has to submit for approval the Law on Government, which limits the number of ministerial posts to 13, deputy ministers to 13-15, political advisors maximum 4 posts for each minister and one deputy minister.

10.                The Government of Kosovo shall make public the Administrative Instruction on per diem fees during travels outside country. Moreover, the Anti-Corruption Agency, in their forms for the declaration of assets shall introduce, except the declaration of salary, the declaration of per diems for the previous year.

11.  The Government of Kosovo shall keep a record and make public data regarding the official visits of government members outside Kosovo. This record should contain information about the purpose of visit, institutions to be visited and the members consisting Kosovo delegation.

 

 

 

GLPS and GAP

 

Prishtina, December 16, 2014