Today was held the strategic meeting of the Steering Council for the CDF Capacity Building Project (Capacity Development Facility), whose main purpose is the support of Kosovo's public institutions at central, municipal and governmental agencies on strengthening the country's democratic institutions.

CDF project has been implemented since 2004 by the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society (KFOS) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Over the last years the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Kosovo has been and remains the most important donor of this project. Over the past nine years the project has supported with advisors many Government Ministries, the office of the President, the Prime Minister's office, the office of the President of the Assembly as well as the independent state agencies. These advisors along to the advisory role have also helped the development and advancement of human resource capacities in relevant institutions. CDF advisors have helped Kosovo institutions progress in meeting the requirements in the context of European integration and public administration reform.

This project will continue to support Kosovo's public institutions for a period of three years, during which the capacity development will focus on advancing the process of European integration, the rule of law, public administration reform and the development of sustainable human resources within the governmental institutions.

The Steering Council meeting was attended by: Mr. Hajredin Kuçi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Ms. Osnat Lubrani, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Mr. Luan Shllaku, Executive Director of the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society (KFOS), Mr. Jan Braathu, Norwegian Ambassador in Kosovo, Mr. Slobodan Petroviç, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Government, Mr. Gëzim Kasapolli, Deputy Minister of European Integration, and Mahir Yagcilar, Minister of Public Administration.

Participants of the meeting appreciated the contribution of this project, the close inter-institutional cooperation and welcomed the decision to extend it, in particular the focus of this support in the field of European integration and public administration reform.