PIPS publishes “SAA Communication Strategy”, disturbing results

There is a huge gap between the knowledge of citizens and their awareness of the SAA, while the tense political situation and the different blockades have been unable to implement this agreement.

So it was said in the case of the presentation of the report “Role and the influence of the media on shaping public opinion about the Stabilisation and Association Agreement” by the Pristina Institute for Political Studies, where the importance of awareness of the public with precise information concerning the MSA's obligations is highlighted.

And at this point, according to those present, there is a great difference in media communication.

The author of this report, Dardan Bekaj, has called the results of this report disturbing, while adding that there are recommended characters for SAA actors, public institutions and media respectively.

Education, information, mobilization and polling of citizens, according to him, are the components that the media must consider to approach problems identified by this report.

The findings show that only a small percentage of about 3 per cent claim they have detailed knowledge about the SAA. Almost 10 per cent of them claim they don't have any information about the SAA, while most citizens, about 70 per cent, claim they have a 10-40 per cent knowledge of the SAA. While 10-20 per cent have claimed to have knowledge of between 60-100 per cent. These results are disturbing and should arouse institutional attention if we only aspire to be part of the European Community”, he said.

Leonora Kryeziu from the Pristina Institute for Political Studies has said that despite the fact that the SAA entered into force a year ago, the tense political situation and the blockades have been unable to implement it overall.

According to her, more can be done in this direction, since she added that the country's institutions, civil society and the media are the ones that can speed up the implementation of this agreement. And she adds that Kosovo can learn much from the practices of the countries of the region that have already passed this process.

It has been nearly two years since the Stabilisation and Association Agreement was signed and more than a year since it entered into force. A tense political situation and institutional vacuum, and blockades have been unable to exploit this whole deal. However, we continue to believe that the SAA is the most important moment for Kosovo after declaring independence in 2008 and we can do much more. Kosovo institutions can speed up implementation of its obligations. We as civil society and the media can monitor and recommend problems that come out on the road, while the media in particular can inform and inform citizens of this agreement that I think is currently lacking”, she said.

The ambassador of the Netherlands Kingdom to Kosovo, Gerie Willems, said that misunderstandings and misinterpretations regarding the SAA exist in Kosovo, while stressing that the SAA includes rights but also obligations, as it serves as a bridge for Kosovo to be closer to the European Union.

These rights and obligations help Kosovo adapt to European standards. The SAA is the first contractual relationship between Kosovo and the EU. Therefore, the SAA is a tool to define reform priorities and shape them in line with the EU's best policies and help solve problems and eventually monitor its overall implementation... SAA is an opportunity for Kosovo to move closer The EU and to improve the country's citizens' standard of life”, she stressed.

The EU, Eulex, the bilateral embassies and the US, as she said, stand ready to help Kosovo on the road towards implementing this agreement, while added that the media has a special role in informing the public through proper communication, to demonstrate exactly what steps to take, because the unrealistic obligations within citizens can be returned to boomerang.

She added that the Netherlands is focused on helping Kosovo on its journey towards the EU.