OSCE Mission in Kosovo

Kosovo's institutions, though functional, are still developing. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo, which is charged with institution-building and promoting human rights, is helping local bodies apply and uphold principles of good governance and human rights in their daily work.

At the central level, the Mission supports the development of both legislative and executive branches of Kosovo's Provisional Institution of Self-Government - the Assembly, the Office of the Prime Minister, the ministries and the independent institutions. It also supports political party development.

Assembly Support Initiative

The OSCE has monitored the work of the Assembly of Kosovo (AoK) since its inception in 2001. From the start, the aim has been to ensure that parliamentary procedures are being respected and that all parliamentary bodies are made operational, committees in particular.

The OSCE has focused on capacity-building and overall improvement of the Assembly's operations. Two areas of special importance have been the Assembly's oversight of the executive - the security and financial sectors in particular - and the legislative process and agenda.

In 2006, the Mission was instrumental in putting together the Assembly Standards Plan, which resulted in more regular Assembly sessions, and in introducing parliamentary question periods to the Government, public hearings, inquiries and policy debates.

In addition, to enhance the Assembly's oversight capacity, the Mission works closely with and advises relevant Assembly committees and ensures the exchange of best practices with parliaments from the region and the EU.

The Assembly carried out little public outreach until 2007 when the OSCE supported the "Week of the Assembly", aiming to establish more regular and direct communication between Assembly members and their constituencies.

Working with the executive

In its relations with the central level executive, the Mission advises the Prime Minister's Office on how to better uphold human rights and good governance principles, and fight corruption.

It also strengthens the role of the human rights units within the Prime Minister's Office and all 15 ministries. The units strive to ensure that ministries apply human rights standards set out in Kosovo's constitutional framework.

To enhance Kosovo's public service, the Mission is following up on the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Civil Servants, which sets the public service's standards and protects it from political influences.

Political party development

To further the development of political parties, the Mission is helping to develop their internal democracy and the ability to represent the interests of their electoral basis. Emphasis is placed on the participation of woman and youth in decision-making within parties, as well as on managerial issues.

Working with minority parties plays an important role in securing the respect of minority rights through their participation in the work of the central and municipal assemblies.

In addition, the Mission is making efforts to improve relations between the political appointees and public servants at both central and local levels. While the political parties play a key role in determining government policies, public servants provide the institutional memory and politically independent expert advice.

Supporting independent institutions

Since 1999, the Mission has supported the establishment and development of a number of independent institutions, most notably the Kosovo Judicial Institute, the Independent Media Commission, the Ombudsperson Institution, the Central Election Commission, the Internal Oversight Board and the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency.

It has been helping to build their capacities and ensure their staffing, financial and decision-making independence from the Government, and is enhancing their relations with the Assembly of Kosovo to which they report. The Assembly also guaranties their financial independence and secures the Government's compliance with their decisions and recommendations.