Kosovo* gets EUR 12.6 million for waste management

Kosovo Landfill Management Company (KMDK) has signed a EUR 12.6 million grant agreement with Kosovo’s* Ministry of Finance, Labor and Transfers and Germany’s KfW Development Bank for waste management in Prishtina, Prizren and Gjilan.

The European Union provided the funding while the KfW would be in charge of the project implementation.

Kosovo Landfill Management Company (KMDK) CEO Dardan Velija said the project is essential for the company and Kosovo*. The activities would drastically change the condition of landfills operating without adequate permits, he added.

The sites would be transformed into sanitary ones with modern infrastructure in line with European standards and environmental regulations.

According to Minister Hekuran Murati, the project aims to improve the quality of life of citizens by securing a cleaner environment. It would provide adequate infrastructure for waste management, he noted.

Müller: It is urgent to take action in this sector

KfW’s director for Southeast Europe and Turkey Klaus Müller expressed the bank’s willingness to support the Government of Kosovo. It is urgent to take action in this sector, to overcome the problems with waste and to finish the project on time, he stressed.

The signing was attended by KfW’s director for Kosovo* and North Macedonia Moritz Remé, leader of the German Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Germany in Kosovo* Daniel Alker, and Deputy Head of Cooperation at the EU Office in Kosovo Alessandro Bianciardi.

Of note, in August last year, the EU suspended grants and investments in wastewater treatment systems in Kosovo* as part of sanctions against Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his government.

At the time, Mayor of Hani i Elezit Mehmet Ballazhi said the EU suspended a wastewater treatment project that was supposed to tackle pollution including asbestos. The town and municipality on the border with North Macedonia is also known as Elez Han and Đeneral Janković.