Citizens pro, experts against import of cars older than 10 years in Kosovo

On the streets of Kosovo, there are still vehicles of the 1980s, which, in addition to polluting the environment, are also uncertain in communications, which increase the likelihood of accidents. However, experts and heads of institutions do not see it on the road, so that citizens will be able to register accessible cars for their pocket, which would affect a better environment and greater safety on the road.

In our country, the law remains in place by which a car can be registered and the RKS license plates, unless it is in 2013 1923, namely, 10 years older than the current year. For a large number of citizens, the 2013 car registration is impossible. That's because, as far as the plates, the cheaper would cost around 3,500 euros, without counting on the purchase of the car to European countries and the cost of import up to Kosovo.

Citizens are for changing the current law, which does not allow car registration from 2000-2010. They say that in addition to conservation of the environment, 2000 cars are safer than those in earlier years, which still circulate on the streets of Kosovo.

Environmental and communications experts, however, view it as harmful and negative effects to remove restrictions on imports of cars older than 10 years.

There have been years since Democratic Party of Kosovo deputy Mergim Lushtaku has initiated the amendment of the auto import law, which requires lifting the restriction of age, but which has not yet been made such a decision.

Lushtaku, in a proposal for Kosova Prees, says that this law in Kosovo has been created with a double standard, as long as it argues that such a thing seems unfair but is not finding the compliance of majority deputies to participate in the vote.

Meanwhile, as for the customs excise, Lushtaku says changes are needed until he points out that new cars should have a lower excise rate.

In May last year, the Kosovo government had discussed allowing imports of cars older than ten years. Her officials have said that “within the analysis for viewing tax policies are addressing such an option”. Despite this, there is still no change in the decision.

The Ministry of Infrastructure in an email response, says they are looking into the way the import of vehicles in protective function, under a project funded by the Government of Japan. MI points out that part of the research is the possibility that restrictions can be made through euro rates, where import is limited to euro V.

Unlike MP Lushtaku, regarding the proposal that cars older than 10 years in Kosovo can be imported, communications expert Muhamed Krasniqi thinks. He says that with the approval of this decision, a car depot will be established in Kosovo.

He adds that the government should favour importing new vehicles instead of older ones.

Meanwhile, environmental expert Zecir Vesrelaj for Kosova priss says that Kosovo citizens being in poor economic condition are favoured by this decision, but that, according to him, in an environmental respect will cause burdens in air quality.

He adds that vehicles are the second largest pollutants in Kosovo, immediately after the thermal power plants, in the absence of industry.

That citizens have such a decision, they claim.

Citizen Gjergj Lumez says that if 10-year-olds were changed to 15, with regard to restriction, it would be better.

So says Mehdi Gashi, saying he has a 8750 car that doesn't change by any other vehicle. He adds that we have no standards to change production years.

In Article 44 of the Law for Automobiles that have been adopted since 2017, <x0m road networks imported to Kosovo are said to be no older than 10 years”. /kp