Which public bodies handle different parts of Surroundings in Kosovo?

MMPHI handles national environmental policy, spatial planning, environmental consent and the inspection framework; KEPA and IHMK provide environmental monitoring and information. Municipalities handle local environmental protection, water and wastewater infrastructure, waste, public spaces, land use and local emergency response, while ARRU regulates water services and KRU providers deliver them.

How can a person address a local surroundings problem in Kosovo?

Report a municipal service problem first to the responsible provider or municipality and request a traceable response. Water-service complaints can be escalated through ARRU, while environmental information can be requested from KEPA or MMPHI; immediate hazards belong with 112 or the relevant emergency service.

What should households in Kosovo know about drinking water and wastewater in their surroundings?

Public-system drinking-water compliance was 98.84% in 2024, but rural systems and private wells can differ, and private wells are not routinely controlled nationwide. Wastewater access and treatment depend on local infrastructure and service zones, so a property should be checked for its actual connection and treatment arrangements rather than assuming nationwide coverage.

What participation rights apply to people affected by a spatial or environmental project in Kosovo?

Municipal planning and budgeting procedures can include public meetings and written or electronic comments through municipal channels or the Government Public Consultation Platform. Projects requiring environmental impact assessment use project-specific public consultation, so comments should follow the published notice and arrive before the decision.

Surroundings in Kosovo

Surroundings in Kosovo include the conditions people experience around their homes and during everyday activities: infrastructure, air, noise, water, waste, green space, safety and spatial change. Responsibility is divided between national institutions, municipalities and regulated service providers, so service quality and practical procedures vary by municipality and service zone. Air pollution, waste management, wastewater access and seasonal hazards are especially relevant to daily life.

Tip

Treat surroundings in Kosovo as a local service and exposure question, not as one nationwide system. First identify the municipality, service zone, source of the problem and whether it is an immediate hazard; then contact the responsible provider or municipality and escalate through ARRU, KEPA, MMPHI or emergency services when the issue belongs there.

byArta&Arben

Kosovo has no single authority responsible for every aspect of the surrounding environment. The Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (MMPHI) sets national policy, coordinates spatial planning and environmental consent, and supports the inspection framework. The Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA, also called AMMK) provides environmental information and reporting, including indicators for air, water and waste. The Kosovo Hydrometeorological Institute (IHMK, or KHMI) contributes air and hydrological monitoring. Municipalities handle local environmental protection, land use, water supply, sewers and drains, sewage treatment, waste management, public parks and spaces, building control and local emergency response under their own competences. The legal basis for several municipal responsibilities is Law 03/L-040. The formal framework is established, but local delivery, inspection and reporting remain uneven between municipalities.