Implementation of the Administrative Burden Reduction indicator into the Municipal Grant Performance System

For the first time, municipalities have been assessed not only on traditional governance metrics, but also on how actively they simplify, streamline, and digitalise their services. This moves Kosovo from promising reform to measurable progress; directly linking municipal incentives to better, faster, and more accessible services for citizens and businesses. The reform is closely aligned with the EU’s vision for an administration that listens, adapts, and delivers. 
 

Co-funded by the European Union and the German Government and implemented by theDeutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the introduction of this indicator is a result of close cooperation between the Strategic Planning Office within the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Local Government Administration. This mechanism has been introduced to motivate municipalities to cut unnecessary paperwork, eliminate outdated procedures, and expand digital solutions - ultimately reducing the time, effort, and cost citizens face when interacting with public services. 
 

Institutional partners also see the new ABR indicator as a turning point. Kushtrim Canolli, National Coordinator for Administrative Burden Reduction, notes that “This indicator serves as a catalyst to drive the process forward and to help municipalities fully grasp the impact that administrative burdens have on citizens and businesses.”
 

Arben Salihu, Programme Component Manager at GIZ Kosovo, highlights that, “The introduction of this indicator at local level has translated into fast and real impact for citizens and businesses"- underscoring how administrative burden reduction reforms translate into tangible progress for people across Kosovo. 
 

The ABR indicator is rooted in a broader national transformation process that is already delivering impressive outcomes. Thanks to the combined efforts of Kosovo's institutions and GIZ, more than 450 administrative procedures have been simplified across the local level, by reducing the number of documents and information requested, reducing service costs and abolishing whole procedures. As reflected in the Municipal Performance Report, the Administrative Burden Reduction Indicator has reached a notable 79.09% achievement rate and is already being implemented in 21 municipalities across Kosovo. 
 

The overall progress that Kosovo is making in context of administrative burden reduction is also acknowledged in the 2025 European Commission Kosovo Country Report assessed as “significant achievements in reducing administrative burden, improving service delivery, and accelerating digitalisation”, a clear proof that the country is moving toward a governance model that is modern, evidence-based, and shaped around the real needs of citizens. 

By supporting and measuring the burden reduction at local level, Kosovo is signalling a long-term commitment to this process.  

Through coordinated national reforms and targeted support, the country is moving toward a future where less bureaucracy and more user-friendly services become the standard, delivering meaningful and measurable benefits to citizens in every municipality.