Changing the security measure for products imported from Serbia, OEAK reacts
After the reports that the Government of Kosovo has made a decision to change the security measure for products imported from Serbia, the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo has reacted. It welcomes today's decision of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to change the security measure for products imported from Serbia.
For more than a year, the American Chamber has reiterated that such a decision has had a negative impact on the commercial interests of the United States of America and the member states of the European Union, but has also been contrary to the spirit promoted by the Agreement for Central European Free Trade (CEFTA), but also the commitments undertaken by Kosovo within the European Union integration process.
"Furthermore, such a measure has endangered Kosovo's participation in regional cooperation initiatives, with serious consequences for the economy and the Euro-Atlantic integration process of Kosovo. Considering that one of the main goals of CEFTA includes the reduction of trade and production costs, through the elimination of barriers to the movement of goods, the American Chamber called on the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to strengthen as soon as possible control mechanisms at all border crossings, so that the current security measure can be completely abolished. Today's step by the Government of Kosovo is, however, encouraging and evidence that Kosovo remains committed to promoting the free movement of goods between the countries of the Western Balkans and advancing efforts to create a common regional market. The American Chamber of Commerce strongly believes in the idea of the free movement of people, goods, services and capital, therefore they called on Kosovo and all countries participating in regional initiatives to work together to remove all existing barriers that prevent the realization of the four the above-mentioned freedoms, and in this respect also the elimination of the numerous barriers faced by producers from Kosovo in their efforts to export or go through transit in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina", says the reaction.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and the Minister of Finance, Labor and Transfers, Hekuran Murati, will shortly hold a press conference, where they will give details about the decision.