Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has announced plans to increase financial support for the defence teams representing the four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), who are standing trial in The Hague.
Presenting the 2027 budget, worth €4.27 billion, Kurti said the proposed increase in funding would be in line with the request submitted by the defence teams.
“With this budget, an increase in support for the defence teams of the four former KLA leaders has also been envisaged, in accordance with the request submitted by the defence teams,” Kurti said.
He added that the Government of Kosovo is also awaiting the Working Group’s strategy regarding the appeal process involving the former KLA leaders.
The Prime Minister also announced that the 2027 budget provides for a 13th-month salary for public-sector employees, as well as an increase in the salary coefficient to €120, effective July 1 next year.
“In the first half of the year, there will be a 13th-month salary, while in the second half, salaries will increase for all employees paid from the state budget,” Kurti said.
Another measure included in the budget is a gradual increase in child allowances. According to Kurti, these payments will rise by 25 percent each year, starting in January 2027 and continuing through January 2030.
“An increase of 25% each year on top of the current amount. Starting in January 2027, child allowances will increase by 25%, followed by another 25% in January 2028, January 2029 and January 2030,” he stated.
Kurti emphasized that, for the first time, the budget allocates more than €1 billion for capital investments.
Among the projects he mentioned are the Pristina Outer Ring Road, the Duhël–Banullë road section, which he said would connect the two motorways, the Dukagjin Motorway, as well as other regional and national road projects.
He also said that funding has been allocated for dam construction and environmental protection measures, including the establishment of a new waste collection and sorting system.
