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British Embassy Welcomes the Law Enforcement in Prevallë/Prevala

British Embassy Welcomes the Initiative of Minister for Environment and Spatial Planning Gashi to Enforce Law in Prevallë/Prevala

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The British Embassy in Pristina welcomes the initiative of the Minister for Environment and Spatial Planning to take action against illegal construction in Prevallë/Prevala . We are particularly encouraged by the even handedness with which the laws are being enforced. These buildings and temporary structures, including mobile phone antennas, breached conditions and criteria for construction. They represented a risk to the environment and public safety.

We recall that the European Commission 2013 Kosovo Progress Report stressed that “the capacity to implement and enforce legislation at central and local level needs to be strengthened” and that monitoring of protected areas was insufficient. Implementing the regulatory Urban Plan for Prevallë/Prevala is important to Kosovo citizens because it will provide better and safer living conditions and protect Kosovo’s natural parks. This in turn should encourage more tourists to visit the area, thereby supporting the local economy.

We urge all in local government to respond to negative practices in a timely manner to avoid costly decisions later on.

We hope that this initiative will not remain only in Prevallë/Prevala and will serve as a model for other Ministers and Mayors to stop illegal construction and implement the rule of law.

Published 19 November 2013