New OSCE Report Finds Inter-Municipal Co-operation in Kosovo Largely Underused Despite Existing Legal Framework

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 24 December 2025 - A newly published report on inter-municipal co-operation (IMC) by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo finds that while a legal framework for such co-operation exists and is generally aligned with the EU, the Council of Europe (CoE), and the OECD standards, it remains limited and underutilised in practice.

Inter-municipal co-operation refers to formal or informal arrangements through which two or more municipalities work together to achieve shared goals. When effectively implemented, IMC can improve service delivery, attract new funding, and strengthen ties between communities.

“Despite these potential benefits, our report finds that IMC is still often informal, unstructured, or does not occur at all. As a result, opportunities for stronger services, more efficient public spending, and enhanced inter-community co-operation are frequently missed,” said Ambassador Gerard McGurk, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

The report identifies a significant opportunity to invest in inter-municipal co-operation as a tool for inclusive, cost-effective, and sustainable local governance in Kosovo. At the same time, it offers recommendations to the authorities:

• Simplify and modernise the legal framework in a manner which will streamline the process of establishing IMC agreements;
• Create meaningful policy incentives, including a dedicated and accessible IMC fund with a budget code, supported by strategic guidance, templates, and mentoring;
• Strengthen institutional support, particularly by enhancing capacities of the Ministry of Local Government Administration to advise municipalities, monitor agreements, and promote IMC efforts; and-
• Promote IMC as a driver of inclusion, including co-operation on responses to gender-based violence, youth services, and initiatives between municipalities with different community majorities and structures.

If these reforms and investments are undertaken, the report concludes, inter-municipal co-operation could evolve from a marginal practice into an essential tool for improving municipal performance and strengthening local governance.

Full report is available at: https://omik.osce.org/mission-kosovo/661549