Chaotic advertising in the Historic Center of Prizren continues despite legal provisions that foresee the regulation of this issue.

Despite these provisions and municipal acts that prohibit the installation of advertisements larger than 1m² without prior approval from the Regional Center for Cultural Heritage (RCCH), a significant number of buildings and business premises are covered with large, illuminated advertisements, often placed in a way that damages the historical and aesthetic character of the public space in this protected area.

According to a written response from the RCCH, “none of the business entities that have advertisements larger than 1m² installed in the Protected Zone have obtained prior approval from the Regional Center for Cultural Heritage (RCCH) in Prizren.”

The center has emphasized that, within its competences and in accordance with its internal institutional duties, it regularly monitors works and activities in the Historic Center of Prizren, including the placement of advertisements.

“The identified cases have been continuously addressed to the competent institutions for further action,” the RCCH stated.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Inspections in the Municipality of Prizren clarified that all advertisements that were placed on the rooftops of businesses have been removed from the Historic Center.

“All other advertisements placed on the walls of business premises have been recorded, as businesses have submitted requests to be issued permits. In the Directorate of Urbanism, there has not been, and still there is no defined form for how advertisements should look in this area. In cases where there have been complaints from citizens who reported them as obstructions, we have removed those advertisements. Despite everything, we will continue to document and ultimately remove all advertisements that do not comply with the Law on the Historic Center of Prizren,” the Directorate of Inspections stated in its response.

A few years ago, the Municipality of Prizren initiated the drafting of a Regulation Project on the use of public space in the city and the Historic Zone of Prizren, but it was not approved at the central level. Meanwhile, some of the challenges have remained unaddressed since then.

EC Ma Ndryshe reminds that the Historic Center of Prizren is not an ordinary commercial space, but a cultural asset of national and international importance that enjoys legal protection. This state of chaotic advertising not only damages the authenticity and visual integrity of the Historic Center but also endangers the potential for cultural tourism development and the collective identity of the city.

Therefore, EC Ma Ndryshe, based on the content of the Management Plan for the Historic Center of Prizren, appeals for the urgent drafting of a regulation and technical guidelines for advertisements in this protected zone.

It also calls on the responsible authorities to treat the current situation with seriousness and to undertake concrete measures to establish order in this unique space.