Government next week begins distribution of 222m euros

The measure amounts to 6.5m euros, which benefits self-employees, (avoks, tailors, shoesmen, etc) that account for up to 21,000, who have not benefited from the last package, Minister of Finance Hykmete Bajrami told Radio Free Europe.

After that, additions to the salaries of Kosovo's health sector and police workers will be distributed for the month. With a 30-euro increase this month, citizens above the age of 65 will receive pensions, which earn less than 100 euros a month. Social schemes for this month will also be distributed doubled.

Implementation of other measures depends on setting criteria by relevant ministries.

Bajrami said that under the Constitutional Court, the government is in office until the new government is established, so, according to her, the current government has all legal competencies for implementation of this year's budget.

“The measures we have distributed Friday, this is planning because even the budget is projection, so the means that come to the budget and is spent”, Bajrami said.

Florent Spahija, legal expert at the Kosovo Democratic Institute, tells Radio Free Europe that this decision can be implemented as it was within the framework of the Kosovo budget Law, which has been adopted by Kosovo Assembly deputies, and that the law is in force.

However, he says the new government, elected by early parliamentary elections on February 14th, could reconsider the government's decisions in office.

This may not need to be viewed as a campaign, if the law allows and the law requires such action, everything is in order”, Spahija points out.

Kosovo's incumbent government on Friday announced that 16 measures for implementation of the 2021 Economic Recovery Programme for the estimated 222.4m euros have been approved for different sectors in the name of economic recovery. These measures include assistance to the private sector, health and social schemes.

The largest value, of 50m euros, has been earmarked for the health sector, 40m euros for the purchase of a vaccine against COVID-19 and 10m euros for the purchase of other medical equipment for pandemic management.

More than 45m euros have been earmarked for the cost of the Kosovar Fund for Cremunation fee, 12m euros for the agriculture sector, 11m euros in allowances for the sector carrying the main burden on management of pandemic.

While threem euros have been earmarked for subsidising sectors affected by Government's decisions on stopping activities (gastronomia, wedding halls, sports halls, rehabilitation centres and similar ones).

The decision has also increased 30 euros in pension schemes for individuals who benefit less than 100 euros a month. This increase will be valid for the next three months. The value of social schemes has doubled.

Hoti said that already relevant ministries are obliged to prepare soon the instructions and criteria needed for the distribution of that amount.

The Ministry of Finance has received all the obligations needed to mobilise these funds as soon as possible to enter the economy and to come to the aid of Kosovo citizens”, Hoti said at a news conference.