Government finds institutions delayed with SAA implementation

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement is the first contractual agreement between Kosovo and the European Union, which was considered a first step within the framework of European integration processes for Kosovo.

During a regular meeting of the Ministerial Council for European Integrations is required to establish a methodology of work in relevant ministries, as well as to start working towards implementation of integration processes.

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has called for concrete work in implementing the SAA, from the responsibilities of the country's institutions. It has given ministers the right, that the directors of relevant departments who are not able to move forward the European agenda, leave and be brought to office by other people.

“Ministers at the first morning meetings with advisers, department directors, or with the busy people, require them directly. Those who help you on these topics reward those who don't help these topics get rid of them, replace them, bring someone else in so as not to fail the agency”.

This is the right to do and it's good to all do so. As you know, we have huge delays in implementing the SAA, a long time nothing has happened, or very little”, Haradinaj said.

On the other hand, Minister of Integrations, Gift Hoxha, has also called for increased commitment in fulfilling and implementing the agenda of European reforms.

“We need to seek dedication and seriousness in implementing priorities, namely promoting good governance, empowering rule of law, protecting competitiveness, improving investment climates and advancing employment and higher skills policies”, Hoxha said.

Under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the European Commission, through pre-membership Instrument funds (IPA), by 2020 it is said to invest in Kosovo, more than 600m euros, where much of the means will benefit producers from Kosovo.

Kosovo authorities, even according to business representatives, have not been paying attention to the best implementation of this agreement and the opportunities it offers to the state of Kosovo.

The chairman of the Kosovo Economic Ode, Safet Gerjaliu, has told Radio Free Europe that the private sector has not had institutional support to absorb the opportunities the MSA offers.

The “needs to be understood that the ways in which the European Union communicates with absorption of opportunity are projects, feasibility studies, but all of these should be based on key pillars, and they are scientific expertise and rule of order, and where Kosovo, on these two pillars, is stuck and is stuck. In this direction, it's time to work harder on empowering them if we think that the SAA will have MSA effect”, Gerjaliu said.

The SAA requires a country aimed at EU membership, to ensure that its mechanisms of governance and civil society meet the European Union's applied standards.