Explanation

Ministry of European Integration explains to the public that the total amount spent during 2011, published as cabinet expenditures of this ministry, these are not the expenses incurred by the Minister only, but actually include all costs incurred by many other subordinate departments.

During 2011, the Ministry of European Integration has developed many important official activities such as: preparing the meetings for the Stabilisation and Association Process Dialogue, including seven sector areas, preparation of strategic documents for European integration, hosting delegations from Brussels,  visits to the Ministry of European Integration of ministers, ambassadors and delegations of various countries and the wider European Union, a number of ceremonies related to the coordination of the process of European integration, and many other official events. Payments for all official meetings are part of the above mentioned amount, and therefore should not be interpreted as an expenditure of the Minister.

Minister Vlora Çitaku, in fulfilment of the European agenda has an unusually high number of high-level official meetings with representatives of the EU institutions in Kosovo and Brussels, hosts a large number of state leaders from Brussels, which makes inevitable need for official lunches and dinners for various associates. Also, the overall state cooperation and coordination regarding the process of European integration in 2011 has required the implementation of frequent meetings with representatives from the Brussels and the region.

Moreover, the Ministry of European Integration is firmly committed to the coordination and management of the visa liberalization process, preparing meetings for the Stabilization and Association Process Dialogue for all seven sector areas, preparation of structures for SAA negotiations, preparation of Plan for SAA negotiations, and preparation of strategic documents for the European integration of the Republic of Kosovo.

The process of European integration requires cooperation and inter-institutional coordination between the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo with European Union institutions in Brussels and those present in the Republic of Kosovo. The entire process requires intensive level of official meetings within and outside of the Republic of Kosovo, which inevitably results in lunches and dinners during official meetings.

Furthermore, please be informed that the Ministry of European Integration is performing the coordination and management of the European integration process within rational expenditure framework provided for by the applicable legislation in force in the most transparent manner.