OSCE report calls for sustainable policy on subsidized transportation for communities in Kosovo

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 4 March 2015 - Kosovo needs sustainable policy on special or subsidized transportation services so that communities and vulnerable groups are able to travel and access different services, including education, health, and municipal administration, concludes an OSCE Mission in Kosovo report presented today.

The report looks into the provision of humanitarian bus transportation service connecting isolated villages and towns populated by different communities to larger urban areas in Kosovo. It notes that changes to a number of lines and amended routes make access to important services difficult for communities in 12 municipalities, while plans for the continuation of the service after 2015 remains uncertain.

“Termination or reduction of humanitarian bus transportation services would negatively impact communities’ access to services and economic opportunities,” stated Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger. “Therefore a sustainable policy on special or subsidized transportation for communities is required to ensure equality of access to services for those in need.”

The report further calls on responsible institutions to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment in order to inform the development of such a policy, and to ensure disadvantaged communities are able to access services on a continuing basis.

It includes recommendations on how to address identified shortcomings and is available at here.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo monitors the provision of humanitarian bus transportation as a part of its mandate to promote and protect the rights of communities, in particular freedom of movement and access to services. Since 2006, the OSCE Mission has published five thematic reports on the topic.