Does the tax prevent Kosovo's membership in international organisations?

There are at least three goals in Kosovo's current agenda for membership in international organisations and mechanisms. The renewed membership efforts in the INTERPOL (International Police) organisation, then membership in the Council of Europe and the World Trade Organization, are some of the priorities mentioned in this regard.

But the dilemma remains if all these goals could fail because Kosovo could face a lack of support from some Western countries, which have consistently supported it, as a result of the Kosovo Government's decision to impose a 100 per cent customs tax on imports from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This decision, by United States and the EU is estimated to have blocked dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

However, Kosovo government officials consider that Kosovo is not missing anything on the international political level from non-surpassing the customs tax.

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister in the Government of Kosovo Anton Berisha, speaking of Radio Free Europe, said the customs tax cannot present for Kosovo the obstacle to membership in INTERPOL, the Council of Europe or other mechanisms.

We have not been able to membership before the tax or the Council of Europe, nor in INTERPOL, nor in U NESTO. And in the sense of international and diplomatic relations, it would be very incorrect of the states that have recognised us, that a technical point should become the headpiece or head of reports between states”, Berisha said.

According to him, the tax on products from Serbia and Bosnia should continue until these two states change their approach in relation to the state of Kosovo.

Berisha also stresses that the main obstacles to Kosovo's non-membership in different international mechanisms are making Serbia.

Serbia is the problem and we have asked them and we will continue to ask international partners that they demand address to Serbia. When Serbia continues to behave correctly, Kosovo will certainly be correct in the reports even with promises to international partners”, Berisha said.

Kosovo has again applied to become a member of the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL), and its request has already been accepted by this organisation, Kosovo Government officials confirm.

Even in the Democratic League of Kosovo, the 100 per cent fee should not be an obstacle to Kosovo's membership in different international mechanisms.

But, in the LDK, recall Kosovo Government that Serbia can use the tax in this case as it has presented it as an obstacle to continuing dialogue, in its efforts to convince countries not to support Kosovo in its aspirations for membership in certain international organisations.

“Pinge is Serbia's structural behaviour. Tarifa should not be an obstacle to dialogue either. But Serbia managed to turn this into its cause and condition for dialogue, which unfortunately supported our friendly countries”, said Besian Mustafa, spokesman for the Democratic League of Kosovo.

The implementation of the tax by the Government of Kosovo can also have implications for Kosovo's membership in the World Trade Organisation. The Kosovo government says it has made all technical preparations to apply for membership in the World Trade Organisation (OBT) and expects this process to be completed this year.

Despite government optimism, economics expert Gazmend Qorray, professor at the Economics Faculty, days ago told Radio Free Europe that the actual tax Kosovo has imposed on Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina could be serious obstacle for membership in this organization.

Currently, according to him, it is not a favourable time for application in this mechanism and that Kosovo should be certain of membership at the moment of application.

On November 20th of last year, Kosovo had not arrived become a member of INTERPOL after not receiving the necessary majority, out of two-thirds of the votes of the participating countries in the General Assembly of this organisation, which was held in Dubai.

Otherwise, Kosovo's membership efforts in INTERPOL have been under way since 2010.