Prishtina, 11 July 2025 — The acting Minister of Finance, Hekuran Murati, has strongly criticized the Municipality of Prishtina for announcing a €16.5 million public tender intended to outsource the city’s waste collection services to a private company.
In a public statement shared on Facebook, Murati described the move as a “flagrant abuse of taxpayer money,” noting that the service is already being provided by a publicly owned enterprise.
“Instead of supporting and strengthening our public utility, this decision seeks to divert €16.5 million to a private company for a service that is already operational. This represents not only an unnecessary financial burden but also threatens the future of the public enterprise and the livelihoods of hundreds of its employees,” Murati stated.
He further warned that such actions could lead to the financial collapse of the municipal company currently providing waste management services and result in mass layoffs.
Raising concerns over potential legal violations, Murati called for accountability from the judiciary: “Where is the prosecution in this case?” he asked, implying that oversight institutions should investigate the legality and justification of the contract.
The Municipality of Prishtina, led by Mayor Përparim Rama, has not yet issued a formal response to Murati’s allegations.
The controversy comes amid growing scrutiny of public procurement practices in Kosovo, where government transparency and the management of public funds remain key concerns for both citizens and oversight bodies.
