Ahead of the official start of the local election campaign in Kosovo, the Municipal Assembly of North Mitrovica adopted decisions to reclassify seven plots of land from agricultural to construction use — paving the way for, according to the available information from the session, new housing, a kindergarten and social housing units, though many details remain unclear.
The decisions were adopted at a session held on September 9, which began 30 minutes late as assembly members waited for a quorum. The invitation to attend was reportedly sent only shortly before the meeting — a practice not in line with the law.
Housing and Kindergarten Projects
Apart from a private request to convert a small plot for a single house in Suvi Do, all remaining parcels will be used for multi-unit residential buildings, including one or more structures intended for social housing.
The insurance company Eurosig AD received approval to convert five parcels — including a 750-square-metre plot in Bosniak Mahala across from the Prosecutor’s Office — to build a mixed-use development featuring at least one residential-commercial building and a kindergarten. According to unofficial remarks made during the session, up to four buildings may be planned for this area.
The parcel for the kindergarten was previously owned by the municipality and swapped with Eurosig in May under an agreement requiring the company to construct the facility.
The municipality itself also submitted a request to convert two of its own plots for the construction of one or more social housing buildings. Officials say the project is linked to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning’s “Adequate Social Housing” programme, but no precise locations, building numbers or timelines were disclosed.
Lack of Transparency
Even assembly members appeared unsure of the exact locations of the parcels they were voting on. Assembly member Skender Sadiku told KoSSev he supported the measures regardless, citing the need for social housing and kindergartens.
“Wherever it is built, if there are problems with ownership or planning, professionals will resolve it,” he said, adding that the decisions would be sent to the ministry for review.
Another member, Betim Osmani, stressed that the assembly voted only on reclassification of the land, not on the actual construction projects.
Allegations of Illegality
The decisions drew criticism from Milan Radojević, a candidate for North Mitrovica mayor, who called them unlawful. He said the current municipal leadership — which he considers illegitimate — is barred by law from making decisions on the use or exchange of municipal property once local elections have been called.
According to Radojević, no public hearings or auctions were held before the reclassification decisions, as required by law. He cited Article 10 of Kosovo’s law on municipal property use, which limits municipal assemblies and executives from taking such decisions after elections are announced.
He called on the Ministry of Local Government Administration to annul the decisions and promised that a future municipal government under his leadership would reverse them. He also warned that officials who voted for what he described as “illegal” decisions would be held accountable in court.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
