Civil Society overlooked by the Ministry of Economy and Development in the Donors Conference for Kosovo Sustainable Energy

Kosovo Civil Society Consortium for Sustainable Development (KOSID) as one of the most active and involved party in developments in the energy sector and as one of the most uttered supporter of sustainable development in Kosovo, has endlessly demanded to attend ‘Donors Conference on Sustainable Energy for Kosovo.’ The Conference is organized by the Government of Kosovo, the World Bank, and the European Commission. KOSID feels that in the framework of inclusiveness civil society ought to be invited to participate and deliver its developing perspective on this matter.

Nevertheless, the organizers have denied this request to all members of KOSID.

Subsequently KOSID members required to attend this conference under the observers’ status. This request was also refused, argued by the members of the Government that on 8 May 2013 a separate meeting with civil society will take place, and Civil Society will have the opportunity to discuss strategic orientations in the sector of energy.

The Ministry of Economy and Development has failed to organize this meeting, while simultaneously excluding civil society in this process by only organizing an informative meeting, in which the organizers are to convey the results of the conference to the members of the civil society.

KOSID continues to stress the lack of a strategic plan for investments in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency programs by MED, and as such it remains a concern for all parties. Lack of strategic planning reflects lack of serious commitment in front of foreign donors as well as lack of vision and institutional capacities to develop national strategies.

Thereby, the invitation to participate in the meeting of 14 May 2013 which only has an informative aspect, following Donors Conference, is unreasonable, unprofessional and above all will not impact on the conference outcomes.

This shows that national institutions, do not consider civil society as constructive partners, but rather as an external third party, required only to complete certain formal framework.

As for international institutions, the latter have no clear perception about the seriousness of the Kosovo Civil Society’s involvement in cultivating a culture of cooperation and development.

Thus, considering the lack of transparency and side-lining of civil society on this Conference, KOSID refuses to participate in the special meeting foreseen for civil society.

Sustainable energy a precondition for economic and social development of Kosovo

energjia.al, 15.05.2013