Hoxha: Early elections to continue integration processes

In a proposal for Radio Free Europe, Hoxha stresses that it is important not to allow an institutional vacuum, as there are many important integration processes that need to continue.

In the situation we are facing, we see that the elections are inevitable, a situation where the citizen should say his word and legitimise the new Government which will lead the processes we are in that are very important for our country“

The elections are a process that other countries have passed, early elections happen, even though they didn't have to, but we are in a situation where elections are inevitable and I believe that as soon as they are held they will eliminate or limit procrastinating reforms”, Hoxha says.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (MSA), Hoxha emphasises and reforms required by this agreement must continue to be implemented, as Hoxha adds, there has been no proper dynamics.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (MSA) is the first and only contractual agreement between Kosovo and the European Union, which entered into force on April 1, 2016. This agreement obliges Kosovo to make reforms in the rule of law sector, such as Judiciary independence and fighting corruption, then requires reforms in the economy, education, health and many other areas.

In the first quarter of this year, based on the National Programme for Stabilisation and Association Agreement implementation, it turns out that 30 per cent of the measures have been fully implemented, while 70 per cent have not been implemented and face serious delays.

Early parliamentary elections, according to Hoxha, are necessary, as in this political situation in which the country is in place, there will be to postpone the adoption of laws which are necessary for reforms in the integration process.

The time has come for us to move to elections so that the implementation of the SAA can continue. The state needs a government that will postpone and winterise the European integration process”, Hoxha says.

Meanwhile, from integration experts it is considered that the political situation Kosovo has entered following Ramush Haradinaj's resignation from the prime minister's position will put the process, as well as the slow integration process of Kosovo, in limbo for the European Union.

Demush Shasha from the Kosovo Institute for European Policy (EPIK) has told Radio Free Europe that reforms in the justice system and other areas required in the European integration process would mark impasses due to the political situation created in the country.

He says the government in resignation has also had a weak performance in integration processes, but that now in the political situation in which the country is located, according to him, will be even more difficult.

“Taking over two criteria, Stabilisation and Association Agreement (MSA) and visa liberalisation, we can say that the government resigned during its mandate has failed to show progress in the area of European integration”, says Shasha.

Now when the Government is on the resignation, this affects the process of European integration. If we've had slow walks in the field of integration so far, we'll have a suspension of the process now. In view of the election organisation, holding them, then restoring new institutions, I think we will have no development at least for a year in the integration processes”, says Shasha.

Ramush Haradinaj, has resigned from the position of prime minister on July 19th after receiving an invitation for an interview by the Special Court in The Hague in the quality of the suspect.

After returning from The Hague, Haradinaj has turned to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo with a request for “to define the government's competencies and office following his resignation. Kosovo's Constitutional Court has a 60-day legal deadline to give a response to Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's resignation.