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20
Mar
2018

Mechanisms for citizen participation

The best and the safest way to achieve successful and sustainable patterns to ensure citizen participation is through structured and institutionalized mechanisms. Therefore, this section aims at emphasizing the institutionalized mechanisms for citizen participation.

Mechanisms of civic participation and development of direct democracy are oultined in a separate chapter of the Law on Local Self-Government. These mechanisms are: public information; public consultation; the right to petition; civic initiatives; referendum; and consultative committees.

Civic participation mechanisms in general are effective when citizens see them as credible, and where there is political commitment/engagement for their implementation.

Civic participation mechanisms will not work when:

  • Efforts are made to present party positions as independent and legitimate voices of citizens
  • There is no political commitment/engagement for implementation of the mechanisms
  • The system exists in principle (i.e. when it sounds fine on the paper), but when the mechanisms are put into operation, there is lack of necessary resources for them to be properly implemented.

Fulfilling some of the very simple prerequisites is crucial for public participation to be successful. This includes the need that:

  • Participation process to be meaningful and to be seen as meaningful;
  • That the municipality and the citizens, apart from sharing opinions, should also listen to one-another;
  • There should be resources in place that support civic participation, this also means forms of funding initiatives;
  • One should understand the difference between
    • Providing information,
    • Consultation,
    • Participation;
  • Understand which mechanism is being used in which situation;
  • Members of the assembly should be involved in the process of civic participation;
  • Understand that public meetings are just a form of participation, and if they are not properly managed, they can be seen as biased and be put to the service of those who are more vocal and articulate;
  • There should be policies in place that push the municipal staff to promote civic participation.

Public consultation

Good governance in Kosovo municipalities requires public consultation to be considered as two types: one form is addressed in Article 6 of the Administrative Instruction on Transparency in the Municipalities where public meetings are held at least twice a year (a minimum standard), they take the form of public consultations held for issues of general interest and where many...
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March 23, 2018 0 Click here to ask the municipality

Public information

Public information is a unilateral and simpler form of communication of municipal institutions, which means that municipal officials should constantly inform citizens about activities and acts of the municipality.

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March 26, 2018 0 Click here to ask the municipality

Petition

Everyone has the right to compile, submit and receive an answer to the petition for any matters related to the municipal responsibility and competencies. The petition may have to do with certain complaints or requests. Generally, Article 5 of the Administrative Instruction on Transparence in Municipalities shall determine the procedure for reviewing the petition.

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March 29, 2018 0 Click here to ask the municipality

Civic initiatives

To a greater degree and with greater impact, citizens of a municipality have the right to take the initiative to remove their mayor from office, a right that is further explained in article 72 of the LLSG.

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April 1, 2018 0 Click here to ask the municipality

Referendum

For some issues of general interest, which relate to the competencies of the municipality, can be organized a referendum. The organization of this form of citizens' declaration should be done in accordance with legal provisions in force under Article 71 of the LLSG.

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April 3, 2018 0 Click here to ask the municipality

Consultative Committees

Consultative committees are the highest level of active participation. Committees constitute a relationship that is based on co-governance, in which citizens engage in the decision-making process.

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April 7, 2018 0 Click here to ask the municipality