The Government of Kosovo has approved the draft law on temporary measures for basic products in cases of special market destabilization.
This draft law, which was reintroduced after being rejected by the Constitutional Court, is said to aim at protecting consumers and preventing price increases for essential products during inflation caused by global crises. In addition, the executive at today’s meeting approved a series of draft laws, including the draft law on mandatory health insurance, which was also rejected by the Constitutional Court in 2024.
The Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, said the new draft law on price caps has taken into account the recommendations of the Constitutional Court.
She said that two types of temporary measures will be defined: setting the trade margin for wholesale and retail, and setting the maximum allowed price for basic products.
Kusari-Lila said that decision-making on these measures will be assigned to a board to be established by the Assembly of Kosovo.
“The aim is the protection of consumers and the public interest, as well as the establishment of a new independent institutional and procedural mechanism for managing situations that arise as a result of price fluctuations in the market. During the drafting of this draft law, as it is for the second time before the government and the assembly, the recommendations from the Constitutional Court ruling regarding the previous law have been taken into account. It defines two types of temporary measures: setting the trade margin for wholesale and retail and setting the maximum allowed price for basic products. This is because a number of other measures from the previous law fall directly under the competence of the MINT according to the laws in force. Regarding decision-making for these measures, the establishment of an independent board is foreseen, which will be appointed by the Assembly and will report to it,” she said.
On the other hand, Minister of Health Arben Vitia said that the draft law on mandatory health insurance will create a sustainable and inclusive system that will regulate the health system.
“After more than ten years of efforts, this draft law represents an important step toward creating a sustainable and inclusive health insurance system. With this law, the mandatory insurance fund is created, as well as the functioning and financing of this fund. This law includes the entire population, aiming at universal access to basic health services and improving the quality of these services. This law lays the foundation for transforming the health system mechanism, achieving universal health coverage, and reducing inequalities caused by health services,” he said.
The executive also approved the draft law on citizenship, about which Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Svecla said that the diaspora will also benefit.
At today’s meeting, financial funds were also allocated for the Presheva Valley, and the board of directors of the public enterprise Hidrodrini in Peja was appointed. The chairperson of the board was appointed Qëndresa Kukaj-Prelvukaj, while members are Naim Haziri, Mjellma Vokshi, and Ismet Fekaj.
The government also allocated over 2 million euros for the Central Election Commission to cover unpaid obligations arising from the organization of the early elections held on December 28 last year. /KosovaPress/
