Good News for Kosovars Taking Pensions in Switzerland

On 29 September 2017, «Age et Migration» under EPER (HEKS), organised an information session on the negotiations developments for a new social security agreement between Switzerland and the Republic of Kosovo.

Following the abolition of the deal with the former Yugoslavia by the Swiss side, Kosovars since 2010 had no chance to enjoy their old age and disability pensions in their country of origin. The lack of this agreement on social security between the two countries was described as an injustice by many Kosovo citizens who are staying in Switzerland, who maintain strong ties with their country of origin.

To debate this topic, two intervenators were invited to provide general explanation of the negotiations held on this issue, and to answer the audience's questions: Salih Sefa, consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Bern and Union Iseni, director of the albinfo.ch platform.

Iseni presented a recurring chronological description from the abolition of the social security agreement to the start of negotiations between the two states, always relying on statements of competent persons published in albinfo.ch.

While Sefa, in the quality of one of the participants in the negotiations' development, made a general presentation on this agreement, drawing attention to the public on further procedures and positioning two states, prior to the adoption and entry of this agreement.

Consul Sefa also confirmed some important information. According to him, Kosovars will again be able to enjoy the right to pensions of old age and disability after ratification of the bilateral agreement between the two states; Those who have withdrawn their contributions from the compensation chest in Switzerland will not have the right to retire from old age or disability; The deal will have no retroactive effect on the period from the abolition of the previous agreement until the ratification of the new social security agreement.

The role of the diaspora, especially of Albanian experts in the area of social security, was mentioned by the two intervenators simultaneously, not forgetting the role of the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Switzerland and Swiss authorities on the other side, for launching social security negotiations between the two states.

Finally, citizens were reminded that after ratification of the bilateral agreement, the joy of retirement of old age and disability in the country of origin is their right to be realised near the Swiss Ark of compensation in Geneva, without any lawyer's commitment.