Kosovo bans “Europe's”

After January 1, 2018, more than 10 years old cars cannot be imported to Kosovo and that do not meet the “Europa 4” standard for air download rates. The decision is official, and according to the Kosovo authorities, Europe's “scum” will no longer be allowed to be brought home.

The old cars that have been exploiting their fellow countrymen in the diaspora, and who have thought to bring them to Kosovo to progress, should do so as soon as possible, because institutions in Kosovo have made their decision, since 2018, to stop importing cars older than 10 years. With this decision, “The scum” Europe will not be brought to Kosovo, even in the worst cases, these cars will not be used as “for parts”, writes albinfo.ch.

The government of Kosovo has taken the decision to import older cars at the request of incumbent Finance Minister Avdullah Hoti. The decision is now official, after which it has come to the official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo. And according to the decision, after January 1, 2018, there will be no way of importing cars older than 10 years and failing to meet the EURO 4 standard for air download rates. But by December 31st of this year, each car can be continued despite age. According to statistics owned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, about 90 percent of cars used in Kosovo are older than 18 years. These vehicles are considered a major cause of environmental pollution and traffic accidents, many of which are ending fatally.

Kosovo with 1.8 million people, with 400 thousand vehicles

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there are over 385 thousand vehicles in Kosovo, while registered at the MPB are over 300 thousand. Taken in general, the average age of cars is 18 years, or 10 years more than the average cars that circulate within the European Union, is said in an analysis published months ago by the Institute for Advanced Investigations “Gap”.

Mehmeti, from this institute, has said that 90 percent of the cars in Kosovo are now old, and that, according to him, has negative effects on society.

Albinfo.ch has contacted Kosovo Customs spokesman Adriatic Stavileci. He said that during the past year, around 27 thousand cars have entered Kosovo. Their “, 2263, is new, and this represents an increase in import in last year because the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (MSA) has enabled new cars to have much less taxes so we have an import increase. And the used cars are 10 times more than the new ones, passing the figure of over 22,000 cars imported”, Stavileci said.

More expensive laundry than buying a car

During the past year, vehicle-paid taxes, according to Stavileci, amounted to about 64m euros, showing that Kosovo authorities have managed a relatively large sum from the distribution of these vehicles. This, even for the fact that the excess and excise of a 2.0 litre of 2006 is between 2,000 and 3 thousand euros. Sometimes there is more to it than buying a car in Switzerland or Germany.

During the first five months of this year, according to the Adriatic Stavileci, 1106 vehicles with mile 00 or 34 percent more than in the same period of the year have been imported.

According to customs statistics, the French automobile Renault ranks first with 13 percent of its import, then comes Wolfgang, who also approaches the figure of 13 percent. Citroen is third in 5, 7 percent, Kia 7.6 percent, Dacia 5.2 and Ford 4.6 percent...

“... while, in the import of used automobiles, there is another structure of vehicles enjoyed by our citizens. From older automobiles still dominate Volkswagen by 45 percent, Opel 10.3 percent, Audi 8.3 percent, Mercedes 10.2 percent, and BMW at 5.2 percent”, he said.

Kosovo market “has” mostly cars coming from Switzerland

According to Customs data, there is a decrease in the import of gasoline-type cars. So of the approximately 27,000 cars that just go, only 2 thousand and 500 are of gas burns, and the rest of them are diesel burns. The state from which Kosovars receive more cars even in this case is Germany, followed by France and Italy. And the cars that most “eats the market” are the ones that are used in Switzerland, because of the highest standards the Helsinki state applies.

Zeqir Kecekolla from Pristina says it is difficult economic conditions that force citizens to buy more used cars, though they, in addition to causing environmental problems, are also seen as unsafe means in communications.

The damage in the environment is doing the old cars. But in Kosovo it is great poverty and citizens have no money to buy expensive cars”, he has said of the REL.

Even Blerim Kabashi employees in the public sector agree that in the car market there should be age restrictions, but according to him, financial conditions do not allow citizens to drive new and expensive cars. I want to have a new car. But because of the possibilities, I drive an old, BMW-type car. I know they affect the environment, but less used cars are more expensive”, he says.

Representatives of the New Automotive Importors Association consider that importation of cars older than five or six years should not be allowed in Kosovo.

Bujar Hoxha, chairman of this association, told local media that the use of old cars on the streets of Kosovo, in addition to environmental pollution, has also contributed to increasing the number of accidents. The 10-year age limit is high. It should have been 5-7 years. I hope the new law, will have customs and excise duties for cars that are old”, Hoxha says.

Agron Bektashi is official at the Regional Environment Centre (REC). He says one of the biggest air pollutants in Kosovo is old vehicles. According to him, only 2 percent of cars are produced in the Pristina region in 2010-2014, while about 30 percent of cars are over 25 years old.

This is a fairly large percentage, considering that old cars and their burning system do not meet the conditions of either European drafts, but environmental protection. Besides being direct pollutants, such as gas emissions, create more noises and wastes, etc.”, Bektas says of Kosovo media.

Using these vehicles, Bektash says, is endangering Kosovo citizens' overall health every day. According to him, 50 percent of cars have not had to be in circulation in communications. I can say that cars which in Kosovo last over 15 years, while not talking about those over 25, are one of the most serious environmental pollutants and direct riskers of diseases with aspiring organs, such as respiratory, lung and other”, Bektas says.

After how many years in Kosovo, WV gives place to Reno

Although the majority of Kosovo citizens living abroad are concentrated in Germany and the country has always been noted for using German vehicles, a new era has begun to dominate Kosovo. It seems that Kosovars are enjoying more French vehicles, which are most daily seen on the streets of the country, a fact confirmed even with Kosovo Customs figures on imported vehicles. The most imported automobile this year is Renault (Renault).