The economic sanctions of the European Union against Kosovo have damaged the country by around 300 million euros, while this figure may increase, since it is more than eight months since they were imposed. This is how some economic experts assess, who call on the EU to remove them.
The same assess that from these measures, Kosovo is losing foreign investors, as they hesitate to invest in a country that is sanctioned by the European Union. While they say that it is essential to find a solution before the EU enters its election cycle, as it would risk these measures lasting for months. However, they also criticize the government’s weak reforms in the country’s economy.
The President of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (KCC), Lulzim Rafuna, says that from the EU sanctions, there are about 300 million euros blocked projects.
Rafuna, while calling on the EU institutions to remove these measures, also asks the country’s institutions to meet the conditions, and to be in coordination with the EU, so that Kosovo is not sanctioned.
He says that the projects have been dedicated to spending or capital investments that would directly affect economic growth and increase social well-being for the citizens of Kosovo.
Rafuna considers that the EU should impose punitive measures against Serbia, for the aggression it did in Banjska last year.
He reiterates that there are grants that Kosovo can no longer receive, such as the Digitization Fund, where, according to him, all the countries of the Western Balkans received their share, whereas our country was excluded precisely because of the measures.
The executive director of Riinevst Institute, Alban Hashani, says that these measures are damaging the country’s economy.
While Hashani says that the measures imposed by the EU are unfair, he adds that the country is also losing many foreign investors.
Hashani considers that it is essential to find a solution before the EU enters its election cycle, as according to him, it would risk these measures lasting for months.
On the other hand, the economy expert, Florin Aliu, considers that the country’s economy has stalled because of bad reforms by the Government, and not because of EU measures.
We recall that these measures by the European Union against Kosovo have been imposed due to the disregard of requests for immediate steps by the Government of Kosovo to reduce tensions in the north. /E.Krasniqi/
