Sheriff EU: Stand neutral tax

The head of the Parliamentary Initiative Group, Bilall the Sheriff, has asked the European Union to be neutral in the tax imposed by the Government of Kosovo for the products of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The sheriff has counted several demands Kosovo has had on Brussels, having for reference a statement by Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

The Sheriff's full delivery:

The EU has to remove double logic and two-point measure!

Speaking to reporters at “EU-Serbia Ministerial Accession Conference”, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Good Neighbor, Johannes Hahn, declared that “Taxa of 100 %s for goods imported from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is against the free trade spirit of CEFTA” and against the spirit of regional co-operation, which can only be developed through free trade, free movement of goods and the free movement of people<x>

Since the time the EU has taken on the role of mediator in Kosovo- Serbia has not had such a context that enabled it to expose the dual logic of behaviour on the part of some EU representatives. The introduction of taxes on products of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina served to use a host of forms of pressure on Kosovo, reminding us of the fundamental principles and values upon which the EU is based.

Since we're on the principles and values that the EU institutions possess and speculate about who violates these principles, then I am reviewing the following:

All complaints that have been made by Kosovo for disrespecting agreements signed in Brussels have found a disregardy treatment on Serbia's part.

When Kosovo authorities asked EU institutions to intervene with Serbia's authorities to respect the energy agreement, the answer was clear: “problems to be resolved within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue”;

When Kosovo authorities asked EU institutions to intervene with Serbia's authorities to cut off Kosovo's membership efforts in institutions and international organisations, the response was the same: “problems to be resolved under Kosovo-Serbia-Serbia-x1> dialogue;

When Kosovo authorities asked EU institutions to intervene with Serbia's authorities to cut off the financing of illegal structures in Kosovo, the known answer was brought forward: “problems to be resolved within the Kosovo-Serbia-Serbia dialogue”;

When Kosovo authorities asked EU institutions to intervene with Serbia's authorities to cut off pressure on members of ethnic Serb affiliation in Kosovo institutions, we had the already known response: “problems to be resolved within Kosovo-Serbia-Serbia dialogue”;

When Kosovo authorities asked EU institutions to intervene with Serbia's authorities to remove barriers that were attached to Kosovo products and companies were required by Kosovo for the “problems to be resolved within the Kosovo-Serbia” dialogue;

When Kosovo authorities asked the EU institutions to intervene with Serbia's authorities to respect the principles for free movement of goods, free movement of tools and free movement of people from Kosovo, we were told that “problems would be resolved within Kosovo-Serbia dialogue”;

In one word, whenever Kosovo authorities asked the EU institutions to intervene with Serbia's authorities to respect the agreements, EU representatives repeated the same thing: “problems to be resolved within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue”.

Kosovo authorities have let all international institutions and states know, except that the tax imposed on products of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is issues that can only be resolved within the overall package of Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

Just by standing neutral against “the tax issue” and asking that, like all other issues, “even this problem be solved within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue”, The EU can play the role of impartial mediator and remove the logic of two-certical measurements.

At the time when Kosovo met all the conditions for abolishing the visa regime to Kosovo citizens, the ghettoisation of Kosovo's citizens is not in the spirit of regional co-operation, nor in line with the principle of free circulation of people, ideas and goods standing on the foundations of democratic values.

It would have been good for Commissioner Johannes Hahn and all other EU representatives who have followed Kosovo's commitments in this process to prove that even in the Kosovo case, the EU functions in accordance with its principles. So far reality testifies to dual logic and two - story measurements!