European Commission approves 138m-euro financial envelopes for Kosovo

The European Commission has approved over 138m euros as assistance to Kosovo through IPA 2019 and IPA 2020 programmes for Kosovo and relevant financing agreements are signed by both sides. The IPA decision was mentioned yesterday at the Government meeting.

The Office of the European Union in Kosovo, through a statement, says that of this amount, 50 million euros have been re-programd to address the social and economic consequences of the crisis from COVID-19 in the short and medium term.

“to back the following sectors: Democracy and Governance (EU approach), Rule of Law and Basic Rights, Environment, Climate and Energy, Competition, Innovation, Agriculture and Rural Development, Education, Employment and Social Policy” are highlighted in the announcement.

The EU is now reportedly awaiting ratification of these agreements by Kosovo institutions in order to start implementation.

EU Office in Kosovo/EU Special Representative Tomash Snoug (Tomas Szunyog) welcomed the signing of IPA's 2019 IPA Action Programmes Part II and 2020 for Kosovo.

“The EU has worked hard to reprogram a large part of our assistance to meet the needs of people in Kosovo who have been affected by COVID-19. Our support will strengthen social protection, support small businesses and help stabilise public finances. I call on Kosovo institutions to now ratify these programmes as soon as possible”, Snoug said.

Through these programmes, the European Commission will support initial businesses and micro-businesss, job creation and youth and women employment, quality of higher education, social protection and basic needs of households in poverty or income, and cultural heritage and cultural tourism.

It will also support Kosovo in preventing environmental degradation of land and air and the negative impact on human health by reducing solid waste pollution and emissions from energy production.