EU: Remove the tax, if you want dialogue to continue

Although this decision was backed by Kosovo citizens, the European Union reacted, whose officials repeatedly declared the tax must be lifted. The U.S.

Despite these objections, the Haradinaj Government's tax decision remained steadfast.

EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijanciq for Indexline through email has said that for tariffs and other steps in dialogue, their position is clear. She has said there is no alternative to continuing dialogue, except lifting the tax.

“Sic we have repeatedly said, the EU, along with member states and the US, calls on the Government of Kosovo to suspend the tariffs in order to allow quick resumption of dialogue. There is no alternative for quick resumption of dialogue between the two sides”, it says in its response.

According to Kocijancic, these customs duties are blocking not only dialogue but also the European route.

“Tarifats not only stay on the road to dialogue, but also stand on the European road of Kosovo”, she stressed in her response.

Political analyst Shkelzen Maliqi says there are other options, but how realistic are they if Serbia insists on the tax and that the EU did not pressure it.

“Of course there are other options, but the problem is how realistic are they if Serbia insists that there is no continuing dialogue without tax removal and the EU put no pressure on Serbia, what's going on, so that it can also be flexible”, he said.

According to him, Kosovo must temporarily suspend the tax to give the chance to dialogue.

There are no taxes, but for a period of period. Three or four months of its application is aborted until negotiations continue, and as soon as it is understood that there is nothing about dialogue, the tax continues to apply. Likewise, if the dialogue succeeds, then the tax is removed entirely”, Maliqi has said, among other things.

While, it has stressed that even if there is a post-tax in relation to Serbia, then ways for a final agreement that stabilises not only Kosovo, but also the region should be opened.

The next “other argument for suspending the tax is that, for this, our international allies, the US and the European sponsors of Kosovo Independence insist. Kosovo does not have the luxury of driving resentment or breaking up with the US or the EU. Even if the tax so far is following relative success in reporting with Serbia, with which we have had extremely negative trade balance, the tax has now met the function and we have to pave the way for a final agreement that stabilises Kosovo, but also the country”, Maliqi has said further.

While, in a response to the US Embassy, it is said that the Government of Kosovo and Serbia should be flexible in negotiations between the two countries.

” The United States has encouraged the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to be both creative and flexible in their approach to these negotiations -- these qualities are now more needed than whenever to bring the parties back to the table of negotiations” -- said their response.

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has been declared that the tax is not removed until Kosovo's recognition by Serbia.

While Serbia's president has said that if taxes are not removed by six May, then they will take measures, insisting that dialogue will continue only after the removal of customs duties.