KDI calls for a fundamental reform of public procurement, with emphasis on the impact and value of investments

The Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) held a roundtable discussion on the topic “Public procurement in Kosovo: Beyond technical changes – Toward a structural reform of public procurement in Kosovo,” during which the main findings and recommendations for reforming the country’s public procurement system were presented.

Members of parliament, representatives of public institutions, civil society organizations, experts, and representatives of the international community took part in the discussion.

At the close of the discussion, participants agreed that the upcoming reform must go beyond merely procedural changes and aim to build a modern public procurement system based on performance, integrity, risk management, and the strategic use of public spending.

According to KDI, this reform process should be supported by modernizing the legal framework, strengthening institutional capacities, developing the Procure-to-Pay (P2P) system, managing integrity and risk, orienting the system toward performance, and promoting sustainable procurement.

Opening the roundtable, KDI Program Manager Florent Spahija said that public procurement should not be treated only as an administrative procedure, but as an instrument that directly affects citizens’ lives.

“When public projects fail or do not respond to citizens’ needs, then we have failed to create value from public money. The debate on procurement should focus on the results and impact of public investments,” Spahija said.

KDI researcher Diana Metushi Krasniqi pointed out that although Kosovo has made progress in digitalization and transparency, the upcoming reform must address the system’s structural weaknesses.

“The last comprehensive reform was carried out in 2011, while the changes made in 2015-2016 were mainly technical. Later reform efforts were not finalized, while the exclusion of civil society from the new working group created in January 2026 raises concerns about the inclusiveness of the process,” she said.

According to the analysis presented by KDI, public procurement reform must change the existing approach by shifting the focus from transparency to performance, from tendering to full procurement cycle management, and from the formal observance of procedures to creating value for public money and concrete results for citizens.

During the discussion panel, MP Eliza Hoxha underlined the need to separate purchasing functions from procurement functions, create a State Price Catalogue, and integrate the gender dimension into public procurement processes.

On the other hand, MP Janina Ymeri expressed concern over poor contract management and the lack of accountability in institutions.

“Poor contract management and the lack of accountability remain among the main risks to public finances,” Ymeri said.

Albulena Nrecaj from INPO stressed that Kosovo’s legal framework is largely aligned with European Union directives, but its implementation in practice continues to remain a challenge.

“The Public Procurement Law is largely harmonized with European Union directives, while the main challenge remains implementation in practice and the lack of institutional accountability for violations and omissions,” Nrecaj said.

The activity was organized by the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI) with the support of the European Union.