The Past and Present: A Note on the Civil Service of Kosovo: Discussing its Design, Independence, and Management

Abstract

This article assesses Kosovo's post-independence efforts to reform the civil-service system and establish a merit-based civil-service system. It also provides an overview of the relationship between civil service and other political institutions and asks whether the constitutional choices have—to a certain degree—influenced the existing design of the civil service. Moreover, the article exposes the current trend of politicization and describes the models through which the latter is developing. Finally, the article asks whether the current system of recruitment, promotion, and appointment of senior managing staff preconditions a political civil-service system.

Keywords:

• civil service
• Kosovo
• politicization
• government
• parliament

Notes

¹Regulation on Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2001/9. (2001). Chapter 5, para. 1, sub-para. m, and para. 2, sub-para 2.

²Regulation on Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2001/9. (2001). Chapter 4, para. 4, sub-para. d.

³Regulation on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2001/19. (2001). Section 4, para. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

⁴Regulation on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2001/19. (2001). Section 4, para. 2.

⁵Regulation on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2001/19. (2001). Annex IX, para. i.

⁶Regulation on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2001/19. (2001). Annex IX, paras. I and ii.

⁷Regulation on the Kosovo Civil Service, No. 2001/36. (2001). Preamble.

⁸See Strategy for Public Administration Reform in Kosovo 2007–2012, (15 February 2007), p. 7, Retrieved February 16, 2010, from http://www.fridomks.org/media/01percent20Draftpercent20Strategjiapercent20RAP.pdf.

⁹See Action Plan for Public Administration Reform in Kosovo 2009–2011 , p. 5. Retrieved June, 12, 2010, from http://www.fridomks.org/media/02percent20Actionpercent20Planpercent20PAR.pdf .

¹⁰See Strategy for Public Administration Reform in Kosovo 2007–2012, (15 February 2007), p. 5, Retrieved February 16, 2010, from http://www.fridomks.org/media/01percent20Draftpercent20Strategjiapercent20RAP.pdf.

¹¹See Commission of the European Communities (2006). Commission Staff Working Document: 'Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 2006 Progress Report. SEC (2006)1386, Brussels. Commission of the European Communities (2007). Commission Staff Working Document: Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 2007 Progress Report. SEC(2007) 1433, Brussels. Commission of the European Communities (2009). Commission Staff Working Document: Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 2009 Progress Report. SEC(2009) 1340, Brussels.

¹²Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. (2008). Art. 101, para. 1.

¹³Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. (2008). Art. 101, para. 2.

¹⁴Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 3, para. 1.

¹⁵Regulation on the Kosovo Civil Service, No. 2001/36. (2001). Section 1, para. a, sub-para. i, ii, iii.

¹⁶Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 4, paras. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

¹⁷Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 5, paras. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

¹⁸Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 23, para. 1, sub-para. 1.

¹⁹Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 23, para. 1, sub-para. 2.

²⁰Law No. 03/L –149 on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, Art. 23, para. 1, sub-paras. 3 and 4.

²¹Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 24, para. 1.

²²In our usage ‘open employment system’ is an open competitive system that is not primarily limited only for certain categories of civil servants. This system allows different persons to apply for certain positions within the civil service without requiring being part of the civil service structures or holding certain rank. It is an open, free and merit-based competition.

²³Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 12, para. 1, sub-para. 1.

²⁴Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 12, para. 1, sub-para. 2.

²⁵Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 12, paras. 2 and 3.

²⁶Regulation on the Kosovo Civil Service, No. 2001/36. (2001). Section 3, para. 3.

²⁷Regulation on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2001/19. (2001). Section 5, para. 3.

²⁸Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 15, para. 3.

²⁹Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 12, para. 4.

³⁰Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 6, para. 1.

³¹Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 6, para. 2, sub-para. 1.

³²Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 6, para. 2, sub-para. 2 and 3, art. 16, para. 3, art. 18, para.10 and art. 48, para. 2.

³³Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 6, para. 2, sub-para. 3, 4 and 5.

³⁴Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 8, para. 1.

³⁵Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010), Art. 8, para. 2.

³⁶Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 8, para. 3.

³⁷Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 7.

³⁸Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 18, para. 2 and 8.

³⁹Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 10.

⁴⁰Administrative Direction Implementing UNMIK Regulation No. 2001/19 on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2003/25. (2003). Section 1, para. 2.

⁴¹Administrative Direction Implementing UNMIK Regulation No. 2001/19 on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2003/25. (2003). Section 1, para. 3.

⁴²Administrative Direction Implementing UNMIK Regulation No. 2001/19 on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2003/25. (2003). Section 2, para. 1.

⁴³Administrative Direction Implementing UNMIK Regulation No. 2001/19 on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2003/25. (2003). Section 2, para. 1.

⁴⁴Administrative Direction Implementing UNMIK Regulation No. 2001/19 on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2003/25. (2003). Section 2, para. 2.

⁴⁵Administrative Direction Implementing UNMIK Regulation No. 2001/19 on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2003/25. (2003). Section 2, para. 3.

⁴⁶Administrative Direction Implementing UNMIK Regulation No. 2001/19 on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2003/25. (2003). Section 4.

⁴⁷Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. (2008). Art. 65, para. 9.

⁴⁸Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. (2008). Art. 97, para. 1.

⁴⁹See some arguments on the subordination of the Assembly to the Government, in Doli, D. and Korenica, F. (2010). Calling the Kosovo's Constitution: A Legal Review. Denning Law Journal, 22, 51-85.

⁵⁰Law on Independent Oversight Board for Civil Service of Kosovo, No. 03/L-192. (2010). Art. 14.

⁵¹Regulation on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2001/19. (2001). Section 5, para. 4, sub-para. b.

⁵²Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 2, para. 1, sub-para. 2.

⁵³Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 51, para. 2.

⁵⁴Regulation on the Kosovo Civil Service, No. 2001/36. (2001). Section 3, para. 1.

⁵⁵Regulation on the Kosovo Civil Service, No. 2001/36. (2001). Section 3, para. 1, sub-para. a and b. Also there were different sub-legal acts that regulated the procedures for recruitment of civil servants. For more see Administrative Instruction on contract procedures, No. MPS/DCSA 2003/02. (2003). Administrative Instruction on disciplinary procedures, No. MPS/DCSA 2003/04. (2003); Administrative Instruction on job description procedures, No. MPS/DCSA 2003/07. (2003); Administrative Instruction on probation period, No. MPS/DCSA 2003/03. (2003); Administrative Instruction on the procedures of termination of employment of the civil servants, No. MPS/DCSA 2003/06. (2003); Administrative Instruction on the procedures to ensure equal opportunities, No. MPS/DCSA 2003/12. (2003); Administrative Instruction on the recruitment, No. MPS/DCSA 2003/01. (2003).

⁵⁶Regulation on the Kosovo Civil Service, No. 2001/36. (2001). Section 20, para. 2.

⁵⁷Regulation on the Kosovo Civil Service, No. 2001/36. (2001). Section 20, para. 2.

⁵⁸Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 11, para. 1.

⁵⁹Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 11, para. 3.

⁶⁰Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 11, para. 3.

⁶¹Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. (2008). Art. 101, para. 1.

⁶²Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 12, para. 2.

⁶³Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 18, para. 2.

⁶⁴Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 18, para. 8.

⁶⁵Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 12, para. 3.

⁶⁶Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 18, para. 3 and 4.

⁶⁷Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 18, para. 6, sub-para. 1, 2, 3.

⁶⁸Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 18, para. 7.

⁶⁹Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 87, para. 1.

⁷⁰Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 87, para. 3.

⁷¹Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 15, para. 2.

⁷²Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 15, para. 3.

⁷³Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 15, para. 3.

⁷⁴Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 15, para. 3.

⁷⁵Regulation of the Government on the Procedures for the Appointment of Senior Management Positions in the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 06/2010. (2010). Art. 6, para. 1.

⁷⁶Regulation of the Government on the Procedures for the Appointment of Senior Management Positions in the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 06/2010. (2010). Art. 6, para. 2.

⁷⁷Regulation of the Government on the Procedures for the Appointment of Senior Management Positions in the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 06/2010. (2010). Art. 6, para. 3.

⁷⁸Regulation of the Government on the Procedures for the Appointment of Senior Management Positions in the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 06/2010. (2010). Art. 7.

⁷⁹Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 88, para. 2.

⁸⁰Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 87, paras. 1, 2 and 3.

⁸¹Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 33, para. 1.

⁸²Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 34, para. 1.

⁸³Law No. 03/L –149 on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, Art. 26, para. 1.

⁸⁴Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 27, para. 1.

⁸⁵Law on Salaries of Civil Servants, No. 03/L-147. (2010). Art. 6, para. 1 and 2.

⁸⁶Law on Salaries of Civil Servants, No. 03/L-147. (2010). Art. 6, para. 1.

⁸⁷Law on Salaries of Civil Servants, No. 03/L-147. (2010). Art. 6, para. 8.

⁸⁸Law on Salaries of Civil Servants, No. 03/L-147. (2010). Art. 11, para. 1 and 2

⁸⁹Regulation on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2001/19. (2001). Annex I, point E, para. iii.

⁹⁰Regulation on the Executive Branch of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo, No. 2001/19. (2001). Annex I, point E, para. ii.

⁹¹Regulation on the Kosovo Civil Service, No. 2001/36. (2001). Section 16, para. 2.

⁹²Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 9.

⁹³Law on Independent Oversight Board for Civil Service of Kosovo, No. 03/L-192. (2010). Art. 7, para.1.

⁹⁴Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. (2008). Art. 101, para. 2.

⁹⁵Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. (2008). Art. 101, para. 2.

⁹⁶Law on Independent Oversight Board for Civil Service of Kosovo, No. 03/L-192. (2010). Art. 10, para. 1, sub-para. 1, 2 and 3.

⁹⁷Regulation amending UNMIK Regulation 2001/36 on the Kosovo Civil Service, No. 2008/12. (2008). Section 8, para. 2.

⁹⁸Law on Independent Oversight Board for Civil Service of Kosovo, No. 03/L-192. (2010). Art. 12, para. 2.

⁹⁹See Independent Oversight Board (2007). Annual Report 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2010, from http://www.ks-gov.net/kpmk/document/english/publications/Report_2007.pdf

¹⁰⁰Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 76, paras. 1 and 2.

¹⁰¹Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 72, para. 1.

¹⁰²Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 73, para. 1 and 2.

¹⁰³Law on the Civil Service of the Republic of Kosovo, No. 03/L –149. (2010). Art. 74, paras. 1, 2 and 3.

¹⁰⁴(The Committee of Minister of Council of Europe, 2000, preamble).

¹⁰⁵(The Committee of Minister of Council of Europe, 2000, para. 1).

¹⁰⁶(The Committee of Minister of Council of Europe, 2000, para. 4).

¹⁰⁷(The Committee of Minister of Council of Europe, 2000, para. 8).

¹⁰⁸(The Committee of Minister of Council of Europe, 2000, para. 10).

¹⁰⁹(The Committee of Minister of Council of Europe, 2000, paras. 16 and 17).