Government allocates 20m euros for subsidisation of public enterprises

The incumbent Kosovo government has held the corresponding meeting that it has approved the decision to change and complete the Fiscal Emergency Pack, where 20m euros are earmarked for subsidising public enterprises that have financial difficulties because of the situation created by public health emergencies.

With the first decision adopted by the government cabinet at today's meeting, the Government's decision to appoint the Scientific Council of Food and Veterinary Agency has been changed and fulfilled. With the proposal of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterina, it is decided that this council member from this faculty, instead of Arben Mehmet, will be Imer Rusinovac.

The government through a communique says it has also approved the decision to change and complete the Fiscal Emergency Pack. With the change and completion of the decision at today's meeting, 20m euros have been earmarked for subsidies to public companies that have financial difficulties because of the situation created by public health emergencies and with the aim of securing their liquidity.

“These subsidies can be conditioned to reduce budgetary divisions for the current year and for the next years for public enterprises. The 2010-2024 Stabilisation and Association Agreement is approved at today's meeting. This is the fifth consecutive programme for implementation of the SAA between the European Union and the Republic of Kosovo since its entry into force on April 1, 2016. The programme is aimed at implementing all reforms for the adoption of the EU acquis in national legislation in all its chapters. The revised programme presents an inclusive framework of concrete short-term reforms and priority mid-term targets (for 2020-2024) for implementing the SAA, by reducing national legislation with that of the EU and implementing the related legislation. All measures and priorities are divided into three blocks: Political criteria, Economic Criteria and European Standards approach Kosovo's legislation with the EU acquis. Political criteria cover the areas of lawmakers, executives, constitutional reforms, reform of the electoral system and public administration, regional co-operation, as well as, in part, those of rule of law, judiciary, fundamental rights and protection of minorities. This block contains five chapters: Constitution, Parliament and the electoral system; Public administration; Ombudsman; Civil oversight of security forces; and regional co-operation and international obligations. Economic criteria have harmonised with the Programme for Economic Reform (PRE). This bloc also reflects priorities and activities emerging from other dialogue mechanisms with the EU, such as annual priorities, conclusion of the SAA structures, or multilateral mechanisms, such as agreements with the IMF, etc. This block contains two chapters: The existence of functional market economy, and capacity to cope with competition pressure and market forces within Union. European standards approach Kosovo's legislation with the EU acquis includes all public policies covering the EU acquis and requires reforming the entire governance through its adoption of national legislation and its implementation. It contains 33 acquis chapters and a chapter on the legal framework for connecting local legislation with acquis”, said the communique.

The government cabinet at today's meeting has approved the initiative for negotiating the Credit Agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) for financing the “Emergency Response to COVID-19” project. The initiative envisions reaching a 35m-euro loan agreement that will be used to improve medical services for Kosovo citizens affected by COVID-19.