The measures of the European Union, the non-realization of capital projects and the events in the north of Mitrovica, were some of the factors that influenced the economic contraction during 2023. Migration also remains a challenge for the country.
Because of EU sanctions, Kosovo lost several projects worth hundreds of millions of euros, one of them was the one for population census within the Kosovo Agency of Statistics.
Throughout this year, there was also no significant increase in foreign investments, and the export of goods also recorded a decrease.
PDK MP, Ferat Shala, while accusing the government of not realizing capital projects, says that in 2024 he does not expect rapid economic development.
That this government has failed to fulfill its promises, says the LDK deputy, Besian Mustafa. According to him, there are more than 200 thousand citizens who can’t wait to migrate for a better life.
On the other hand, Mustafa says that EU measures against Kosovo continue to hit the country’s economy.
Meanwhile, the AAK MP, Time Kadrijaj, while listing the factors that have influenced the stagnation of economic development in the country, accuses the government of an arrogant approach.
On the other hand, economic experts, while listing the factors that have influenced the economic stagnation in 2023, say that the government should focus on structural reforms this year.
Meanwhile, Besnik Avdija, an expert on the economy, told KosovaPress that last year there was also a decline in the consumer’s purchasing power, which he says was influenced by the increase in prices.
He adds that the EU measures against Kosovo have affected the country’s economy.
According to him, the government this year should focus more on structural reforms that bring long-term stability and not on social schemes.
Also the other economic expert, Sejdi Rexhepi, considers that 2023 was not good in terms of economic policies.
On the contrary, from experts in the economy and the opposition, the government continues to boast about the work it has done in terms of the economic development of the country. The MP from the majority, Armend Muja, told KosovaPress that the increase in the budget and revenues are some of the main developments of 2023.
Meanwhile, Muja is convinced that the economic growth will continue for this year as well.
Otherwise, the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) predicts that the economic growth for 2023 will reach 3.4 percent, whereas for 2024 it will be 4.2 percent. /E. Krasniqi
