In the last year of its four-year term, the “Kurti 2” government allocated 202.8 million euros for the Kosovo Security Force. These funds were planned to be spent by 2025, with the aim of the army performing its duties with full efficiency. The Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, often boasted that the budget for the army had increased year by year since he took office.
"The overall budget for our Ministry of Defense and Security Force next year [2025] will initially be at the level of 2% of Gross Domestic Product, according to NATO standards. With additions throughout the year, it will exceed the value of 208 million euros," he declared on October 31, 2024, when the 3.6 billion euro budget was approved by the cabinet of ministers. While this data on defense and security was not classified as confidential, the figures of the money collected in the Security Fund, which was established on March 1, 2022, are being kept completely secret.
The decision to establish this Fund states that the funds will be budgeted to the Ministry of Defense as a supplementary budget and will be used to support the Government's priorities, including the field of defense and state security, security infrastructure, natural disaster management or similar.
When asked about the amount collected, the largest donors, and whether the money voluntarily donated by citizens has been used so far, this ministry refused to answer.
"Regarding questions about the Security Fund, you should contact the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for both the fund and the budget allocation," was the response of Liridona Gashi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense. The Ministry of Finance has been even more closed. This ministry has not responded to any questions sent by the portal since 20.01.2025.
Between "transparency" and "confidentiality"
Ramadan Ilazi, head of research at the Kosovar Center for Security Studies, says the Fund is shrouded in unnecessary secrecy.
“Article 120 of the Constitution clearly states that public funds must be collected and spent in a transparent and accountable manner, but the Security Fund remains a mystery to the public. At the very least, the government should publish basic information: general categories of expenditures, total budget figures, and periodic reports—if not to the general public, then at least to the Parliamentary Committee responsible for Defense,” says Ilazi.
Article 120 of the Constitution of Kosovo expressly states: "Public expenditures and the collection of public revenues shall be based on the principles of accountability, effectiveness, efficiency and transparency."
Skender Perteshi, Executive Director of the Prevent Institute, says that information about the Security Fund is classified because if information about the amount of the Fund or what the funds are spent on, it could compromise national security. “Only individuals who argue the reason why they require this access to that information, who are equipped with a security certificate from the confidentiality level to the 'Top Secret' level, levels that are based on the law on the classification of information, can have access to that budget,” says Perteshi.
However, on the day the 2025 budget was approved, Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci had no problem talking about the money allocated to the army and the purpose of its use.
"The significant increase in the budget and investment in human resources, training of military personnel and increasing operational capacities through investment in armaments is a clear indicator that this sector has the right attention and will be continuously strengthened, not only to protect the state but also to contribute to any international operation with the aim of maintaining stability and peace," Macedonci had declared.
The Vetevendosje Movement was not spared from commenting either. This party has also used the increase in the budget for the army to attack the parties that have governed previously.
"A simple comparison between the 2021 and 2025 budget allocations clearly shows the major change in the approach to the military. Previously, during the governance of the Age-Old Political Club, the military did not receive due attention, as evidenced by low recruitment, outdated military equipment, and a low budget," he wrote in a post that LVV had published on social networks on November 1, 2024.
According to the ruling party, “today, this situation has changed drastically” as “large investments have been made in increasing the number of soldiers, modernizing military equipment and purchasing the latest weapons systems.” But, nothing has been said about the Security Fund!
When, how and why are funds created?
Ramadan Ilazi believes that this initiative, which was heavily promoted at the beginning, seems to have faded. This, according to him, gives the impression that there was no clear strategy behind the initiative. “Usually when such funds are created, they are created in an emergency situation, when government resources may be scarce, or more resources, such as funds, are needed to address an emerging threat,” he says.
"However, it is important to know more and have a clear strategic policy on what this more is, for which we need the public and other parties to provide additional contributions, through a dedicated budget, and for me this has not been clear until now. This is especially when considering that the government has had a budget surplus every year," Ilazi said.
Perteshi, on the other hand, says that the Government has the right to consider information about this Fund as classified.
"This does not mean that the Government or institutions can misuse these funds or that there are doubts about their use, because both the Law on Information Classification and Security Clearance and legislation in general have regulated the way in which civilian and democratic security control mechanisms can control, monitor and manage funds that are considered classified," says Perteshi.
He adds that there are the Parliamentary Committees for the Oversight of the KIA, the Committee for the Oversight of the Ministry of Defense and the KSF, the Inspector General of the KIA, the Internal Audit Units and the Agency for Information Classification and Security Clearance, as well as other institutional mechanisms, which regulate the way these funds are managed and supervised.
Ilazi says that during these four years the increase in the defense budget has been positive, although according to him this is not sufficient.
"Security is not defined only by investments in armaments and equipment. For this reason, training, interoperability with NATO and a planned and sustainable approach should be priorities, instead of a one-dimensional arms race," he says.
Regarding the purchase of weapons and equipment for security institutions, Perteshi says that there is legal justification in the Public Procurement Law, due to national interest.
"During the procedures for purchasing various equipment, secret information may be transferred and the law regulates the way in which institutions can negotiate contracts or enter into classified contracts with various economic operators, whether local or international. Within those Commissions, the way in which these purchases that avoid regular public procurement procedures can be supervised and integrity guaranteed in this process in general is regulated," adds Perteshi.
E Ilazi says the Government should have a more transparent approach and ensure that the Fund's activities align with broader defense and security objectives.
"To do this in a way that both respects the Constitution and the public trust, but also reflects the country's broader security strategy in line with NATO's approach, which is smart defense," Ilazi concludes.
On 01.03.2022, when the Security Fund was established, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti wrote that the Fund was established in accordance with the needs of the Kosovo Security Force, the situation, and after consultations with international partners.
"The collected financial resources are intended to be used in accordance with the state security strategy of the Republic of Kosovo, which is expected to be approved by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo," Kurti wrote.
The fund, he said, would be used exclusively for the purpose determined by the government. During the peaceful resistance in the 90s, the 3 Percent Fund was created, while during the war, the “Homeland Calls” Fund was also created. The way the money poured into these two funds was used has been consistently accompanied by suspicions of misuse. /Kallxo.com/
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