The opening ceremony for the public review period of the Strategy and Action Plan for Prevention and Regularization of Informal Settlements 2011 – 2015, took place on the Thursday, 10th of March, 2011 in the Rilindja Ministries Building. The strategy was drafted by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP).

Director of Department of Spatial Planning (DSP), Agim Radoniqi, opened the meeting by explaining that Kosovo has signed Vienna Declaration in 2005, as a result the of drafting strategy for informal settlements is developed. According to him, the public discussion will continue for 30 days. The public review gives the opportunity for different stakeholders to provide their views, comments, and raise issues and concerns.

Ms. Vjollca Puka, from DSP presented “The present situation of Informal Settlements in Kosovo”. She started the presentation by mentioning the methodology that was used for data collection on informal settlements. She continued with political and institutional context analysis, and on the basic information on how the preparation of the report was supported. She highlighted the support given by other sector ministries, governmental institutions, and international institutions i.e. UN-HABITAT, OSCE and LOGOS.

She stated that there are 174 informal settlements in Kosovo, or to be described territorially as 64% of the overall state territory is covered by informal settlements which are inhabited by 150,724 people.

Suzana Goranci from DSP continued the meeting by presenting the draft Strategy and Action Plan for Prevention and regularization of Informal Settlements 2011 – 2015.