IMF: Do not raise the number of veterans

The head of the International Monetary Fund for Kosovo Mission, Stephanie Able, has called on the country's authorities not to increase the number of non-competitive pension schemes.

She at a media conference she has held along with Finance Minister Bedri Hamza has praised that Kosovo continues to have sustainable growth influenced by investments and exports.

“programs for social benefit must be reformed to better address property. This also included a new credit rating of war veterans to remain in budgetary division stages for 2018. We also urge that non-concilative retirement schemes not be added or increased, with what a healthy pension system of educational and health spending efficiency should be maintained. Budgetary increases for 2018, as well as efficiency of reforms in the health and educational sector, should be revised after pension health insurance schemes” are implemented, said Able.

The IMF chief has suggested that the minimum wage remain in the category of pre-defined mechanisms for its determination.

As far as fiscal policies are concerned, the budget deficit for 2017 is expected to be 1.5 per cent of GDP, and forecasts for economic development according to it are in line with the fiscal order as well as the cost of wages must be in line with the rule.

However, he said the composition or budget composition could improve over time.

On the other hand, Finance Minister Bedri Hamza, as far as IMF assessments of social schemes are concerned they are obliged to act in accordance with the law, while he has said the unemployment rate in Kosovo is high.

We as institutions are obliged to act in line with legislation in force. .. For the unemployment rate, it's high we've heard different figures. Recent figures if we refer to the Kosovo Statistics Agency behave around 27 per cent. Yes, it is the high rate of whether to be 25 or 30 is the high unemployment rate. We need to create conditions for the private spectrum for the private sector to be a leader in economic growth and sustainable job generation. But the unemployment rate we all know that Kosovo is washed, and the latest data says it is 27 per cent “, Hamza said.

He has also estimated that the country's economy has made progress, where he has reaffirmed that unemployment remains at high levels.

Kosovo's <x0) economy, in recent years, has seen progress, growth behaves above 4 percent is among the largest in the region. If we talk about economic growth and as a percentage it's high. But given the basis of Kosovo's economy, Kosovo needs a greater economic growth in order to address its main challenges, which is one of them, and the high level of unemployment, especially in the new generation and the female gender. Kosovo continues to have fiscal macroeconomic stability. The budget deficit this year, we talk about 2017, is expected to be within the fiscal rule lower than 2 per cent”, Hamza said.

He expects there to be a good fulfillment of the revenue plan approximately 100 per cent in line with the plan.

Hamza expects good payment execution as well as good financial balance.

While incumbent Kosovo Central Bank Governor Fehmi Mehmeti has said there is a sound financial system with extraordinary liquidity, high capital and low level of non-aligned loans.