The Platform for Community Affairs is handed over to the Government

Pristina, 29 September 2026

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, attended the handover ceremony of the Platform for Community Affairs to the Government of the Republic of Kosovo. The platform was developed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 2024, with the support of the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Kurti said that the platform enables citizens from all non-majority communities — Serb, Bosniak, Turkish, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, Gorani, as well as Montenegrin and Croatian communities — to find the information they need in one place.

“First, it provides information on Government policies, as well as the latest opportunities for grants, subsidies, employment, training and internships; and second, it enables citizens to directly report discrimination, thereby creating two-way communication between the Government and communities,” said the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Kurti announced that the platform will be managed by the Office for Community Affairs, within the Office of the Prime Minister, and invited all communities to use and promote it, as well as to help ensure its continuous improvement.

Full speech by Prime Minister Kurti:

Honourable Mr. Fikrim Damka, Deputy Prime Minister for Minority Affairs and Cooperation,

Honourable Mr. Lulëzon Jagxhiu, Minister of Digitalization and Public Administration,

Honourable Mr. Nenad Rašić, Minister for Communities and Return,

Honourable Mr. Jonathan Hargreaves, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Republic of Kosovo,

Honourable Representative of the Embassy of Switzerland,

Distinguished representatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), municipalities and communities,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear participants,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the handover ceremony of the Platform for Community Affairs.

The platform was developed by the IOM in 2024, with the support of the United Kingdom and Switzerland, for which I express my gratitude. The Ministry of Digitalization and Public Administration has adapted it to our government systems. Thus, what began as a project is now becoming a public service of the Government.

The platform enables citizens from all non-majority communities — Serb, Bosniak, Turkish, Roma, Ashkali, Egyptian, Gorani, as well as Montenegrin and Croatian communities — to find the information they need in one place. This is important because citizens can exercise their rights and make use of opportunities only when they are well informed about them.

The platform has two main functions:

First, it provides information on Government policies, as well as the latest opportunities for grants, subsidies, employment, training and internships; and

Second, it enables citizens to directly report discrimination, thereby creating two-way communication between the Government and communities.

Kosovo has one of the most advanced legal frameworks for non-majority communities, complemented by affirmative measures and numerous opportunities.

This year, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has organized a series of workshops with non-majority communities. Many participants have emphasized that they find it difficult to navigate where and how to seek the exercise of their rights, as information is scattered across many different sources.

Meanwhile, about a month ago, more precisely on 31 August, I met with the Municipal Offices for Communities and Return, where we discussed the need for better coordination between central and local institutions, because many of the issues affecting communities arise precisely at the local level and often require the involvement of more than one institution.

With this platform, we address both of these issues by bringing together, in one place, information from central institutions and municipalities.

Nevertheless, the platform is still in its early stages. Its success depends on all institutions, both central and local, which must regularly provide it with accurate and up-to-date information. But it also depends on all citizens of our common state, from both the majority and non-majority communities, who can help ensure that its information reaches those who need it most.

This platform is part of our broader policies for non-majority communities, which are guided by four principles: inclusion and solidarity, socio-economic justice, cultural revitalization and linguistic rights, as well as democratic representation.

Based on these principles, Kosovo has become one of the strongest democracies in the Western Balkans and beyond. This is also demonstrated by international indices on democracy, the rule of law and the fight against corruption.

According to the V-Dem Institute, for example, Kosovo ranks among the countries with the strongest results both in the Liberal Democracy Index and in the Egalitarian Democracy Index. The former, the Liberal Democracy Index, measures the extent to which rights and freedoms are protected, while the latter, the Egalitarian Democracy Index of the V-Dem Institute, indicates how equally different groups within society enjoy those freedoms and rights.

Alongside progress in democracy, Kosovo is also recording sustained economic growth, with gross domestic product increasing by 5.4 percent in the first quarter of this year and by 4.1 percent in the second quarter, growth from which citizens of all communities benefit.

Unemployment has decreased over five years from 26 percent to 10 percent. Social programmes, ranging from support for new mothers and child allowances to support for education, employment and businesses, are intended for all citizens without distinction.

In the social assistance scheme alone, one quarter of beneficiary families, or 25 percent, come from non-majority communities.

In addition to these general policies, we have also undertaken specific measures. From 2021 to 2025, we allocated €1 million for learning centres, which have supported around 2,000 children.

Around 2,000 Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian students in secondary schools have benefited from scholarships, while public universities provide dedicated scholarships each year for students from non-majority communities.

Since 2023, we have verified 721 diplomas from the University of Mitrovica North, enabling graduates to seek employment in the public sector.

At the same time, through targeted recruitment campaigns, we are increasing the representation of communities in our institutions.

Over these years, we have also funded 400 projects in the fields of education, culture, sports, healthcare and religious events, while continuing to regularly support community-based non-governmental organizations.

For the upcoming governing mandate, the focus will be on increasing the quality and number of better-paid jobs, as well as increasing the participation of youth and women in the labour market, including through the expansion of the “Superpuna për Gratë” programme and the dual education system.

On the one hand, the Government provides policies, funds and programmes. On the other hand, in order to make the most of them and use them effectively, the willingness, participation and engagement of every citizen are needed.

What connects these two sides is information, and this platform makes it easier for everyone to know where and how to find these opportunities.

The platform will be managed by the Office for Community Affairs, here at the Office of the Prime Minister.

I invite all of you to use it, promote it within your communities, and help us continuously improve it.

Thank you for your participation and attention.