Kosovo in BB report from 44th to 57th, has slow down reforms

The chairman of Kosovo's Economic Ode, Berat Rukiqi, has said that Kosovo in the World Bank's Doing Business report has been ranked among the 20 countries that have made reforms, but that at the same time has seen decline in rankings, where it is now located at 44th position.

Rukiqi said this decline comes as a result that there is a slowdown in reforms in the country, where she mentioned that the most pronounced slowdown is in contract implementation reforms.

The “are two key facts to stress, Kosovo is among the 20 countries that have made reforms, which means they are considered reform countries. At the same time, however, there is a decline, from the 44th country that has been in the current 57th place. This comes for a reason, meaning we have a slowdown in reforms at a time when other countries have made much faster reforms and concreteised these reforms. As others grow older and you go slower, normally so that even though you're among the 20 reformers, it means that even though we're one of the top 20 reformers, that's what's going to affect that decline. There is particularly slowdown of reforms in implementing contracts, and this has markedly affected Kosovo's position in this World Bank Doing Business report. However, it is encouraging that we have progress as far as construction permits are concerned with access to electrical energy, and here I can say without modesty that it's an OEK engagement too,”, he said.

Rukiqi said that in much of the indicators Kosovo is on the average of the region, but that he said there are also indicators where Kosovo is below the average of the region.

The incoming government must continue with reforms where it remains, but at the same time start a series of reforms, especially those related to rule of law, with education, with bureaucracy, so that we can actually be more or less in step with countries in the region”, he said.

At a media conference, Rukiqi has also shown details of his visit to Germany, where she met with Chancellor Angela Merkel's economic affairs adviser. He said that there was also the chairman of Serbia's Oda.

“Fokus has been at eliminating barriers in the region, which for years have particularly hampered Kosovo's trade position, given that there have been continuing trade barriers, different non-tariforal barriers, barriers with political background, especially from Serbia and Bosnia. Now in the new context where there may be delays in the process of European integrations, more and more the idea of creating a common economic space in Western Balkan countries is emerging. Few media spectacles have given the name mini-Balkan Schengen, but it's really that the recent idea that has circulated for the creation of a regional economic space, which is not similar to the Schengen, because shengen has enabled the free movement of people but is similar to the European economic space where Norway, Switzerland, Iceland. It means some countries that have very close reports with the European Union have legislation the same as European Union countries are part of the European Union's common market, but politically and fairly are not part of the EU. This model is trying to project this idea of the economic space of the Western Balkans, with 6 Western Balkan countries moving freely people, goods, services, capital and ideas<1>, he said.

He said the other issue of importance discussed at this meeting has also been the future support of the German government for investments in the region. Gjiahstu, said German companies like Volksagen, BMW have also been discussed. Where the barriers are eliminated there can be positive movement.

Rukiqi suggested they have agreed to hold the next meeting in March or April next year.