The Office of the President of Kosovo has officially cancelled the tender for drafting the feasibility study for the construction of a new Presidential Complex in the “New Pristina” area. The projected value of the tender was €25,000, and three companies had submitted offers.
According to the announcement published on the e-Procurement platform, “The Office of the President of the Republic of Kosovo cancels this procurement activity due to new circumstances which prevent us from proceeding further,” without offering additional details.
The cancellation decision was made on July 29.
The competing offers came from:
- IPE-PROING SH.P.K. (€17,500)
- ALB-Architect SH.P.K. (€19,900)
- Consortium: FST Engineering SH.P.K., AL Engineering SH.P.K., and GJEO-PROJEKT SH.P.K. (€16,697)
According to the contract notice, the new complex was intended to include:
- A ceremonial wing
- Office space
- Advisory and support areas
- A residential wing
- An administrative and operational section
- And optional areas, including a ballroom and a private garden
The residential part was proposed to include:
- A presidential bedroom suite
- A private family room
- A private dining area
- A private study
- A garden and courtyard
- And five guest rooms
Following the tender notice, a wave of public criticism emerged, particularly concerning the residential and luxury elements of the plan.
In response, the Presidency issued a public statement clarifying that President Vjosa Osmani never requested the construction of a presidential residence with private courtyards, bedrooms, or any other form of luxury.
“The conceptual plan for the construction of the presidential building has not received the approval of the President. Within the legal framework, the President will request that it be revised to meet the real needs of the Republic of Kosovo,” the statement said.
The Presidency emphasized that the President did not authorize any private suites or spaces, and that her only request was for functional working and official reception areas, including one guest suite for visiting foreign dignitaries — a standard protocol worldwide.
“Constructing such a building for the Presidency (not for President Osmani) is not a luxury, but a state necessity — ensuring dignified working conditions, security, and international representation.”
The statement also noted the current lack of appropriate infrastructure for high-level state functions:
“Kosovo is the only country in Europe — perhaps in the world — where the Head of State lacks a dedicated facility for carrying out official duties. Currently, receptions are held in Parliament halls where foreign leaders are exposed to sewage odors due to inadequate facilities.”
“There are no state reception halls, no accommodations for high-level guests, and no venue for formal state dinners or meetings, which are instead held in private restaurants — a highly irregular practice for any serious state. It is shameful that even 26 years after liberation, this fundamental issue remains unresolved.”
