Serbia with hundreds of millions benefit from exports to Kosovo, our powerless state in this regard

The data for this year's first four months, January-April, shows that imports of goods from Serbia are growing and increasing. Out of 14.1m euros in the first month, it spent 26m euros in April or 72 per cent more than April 2020.

On the other hand, local exports have been met by northern neighbours, remains powerless. With such a trend of growth, of trade exchange of Kosovo-Serbia goods, the latter collects hundreds of millions of euros annually.

From the history of Kosovo's membership in CEFTA, where the three non-recognitional countries of Kosovo's independence are part of, it seems, was not healthy for the local economy. Because of Kosovo's uneven treatment, in the past the possibility of withdrawal from CEFTA was considered.

Recently, Kosovo's prime minister proposes that CEFTA be transformed into SEFTA under the model of the Litstein agreement. CEFTA in the past was created to eliminate barriers between member states and the concept of market economy and sound competition. In December 2006, on behalf of Kosovo, UNMIK, signed the CEFTA agreement, where Kosovo became a full member on 26 July 2007.

About 5 and a half years ago, at a media conference, the Kosovo Business Alliance, its deputy chairman, Blerim Pirja, respectively, had expressed concern over Kosovo's uneven treatment of CEFTA. According to him, CEFTA recognises Kosovo only under UNMIK umbrella.

For Kosovo to be treated equal, KB had sent two letters for concerns about the content of the Free Trade Agreement - CEFTA, one at the address of former Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and relevant ministries, and the other towards former EU Office in Kosovo chief Samuel Zbogar.

Otherwise, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, at the meeting with leaders of the Western Balkans who were held days ago, said that in the CEFTA agreement, Kosovo has consistently been treated unevenly and unfairly, and then put a new idea on the table. According to him, the idea was for CEFTA to switch to SEFTA [South East European Free Trade Agreement] according to the model of the deal that Lietenstein has.

The common market is not enough, but EU values are also needed to be placed within each state and in reports between states. I also gave a proposal on how we can move forward and it's the model of the agreement such as EFTA, which has Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland to enter into common relations. My proposal is to switch from CEFTA to SEFTA”, Kurti said.

Executive head Kurti gave this proposal days ago even at the trilateral meeting in Brussels with Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq. It was even the first proposal of four proposals Kurt had made that day at the meeting.

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