OSCE Mission in Kosovo helps improve functioning of Municipal Community Safety Councils

From 25 to 27 June 2012, representatives of Ministries of Interior, of Local Government Administration, of Economy and Finance and other stakeholders reviewed and finalised new administrative rules for the Municipal Community Safety Councils in an OSCE-supported workshop that took place in Durres, Albania.

The Safety Councils bring together representatives of the police, municipal institutions, ethnic and religious communities and civil society who advise municipalities on public safety issues.

The revised administrative instruction agreed at the workshop defines the oversight role of the ministries, the appointment procedure for council members through municipal assemblies and the financial compensation scheme for their work.

“This is a significant innovation which will lead to improvements in councils’ functioning,” said Tinatin Bezhanishvili from the OSCE Mission in Kosovo’s Department of Security and Public Safety. “The reviewed instruction will further institutionalize the councils and provide a stronger legal basis for their further development.”

The revised administrative instruction will enter into force upon the approval of respective ministries.

The OSCE Mission works to strengthen security and public safety sector in Kosovo. It provides assistance and capacity building to public safety agencies and supports the implementation of the community policing concept.