When will citizens get compensated for the current spent in the north for 18 years

For 18 years, the current citizens have spent in the northern part of Kosovo -- inhabited by Serb majority -- have paid citizens from other parts of the country. Justice organs have confirmed this month that citizens who have paid more dearly due to the north should be compensated, but as of when, it is not clear.

Over 63m euros is the value of the current spent during 2022 in the four Serb majority municipalities in northern Kosovo: Northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq.

In 2021 this value was about 42m euros. From a GAP Institute calculator, it turns out that in 2010-2020, citizens in the north have spent over 132m euros in electricity.

Expenses were paid by 2017 by citizens of other Kosovo municipalities and then by COST and the Government of Kosovo.

But how did this come about?

The refusal to pay the current has resulted from civic disobedience, but also the impact of various structures in the north, which have operated under Serbia's correction.

To pay off these debts, citizens of other parts of Kosovo have paid bills for 3.5 per cent more expensive.

From 2017 onward, due to numerous citizens' complaints, Kosovo's Constitutional Court has passed the payment responsibility to the country's institutions. That same year, the Court of Appeals has demanded that consumers who have paid the current spent in the north for 18 years be compensated.

On April 18th, the Supreme Court has refused ZEREA's request to rescind the Appeal Act, saying consumers must return the means.

How and when this will be done, there is now no information.

But that is not the only problem that has caused the failure of electricity to the north. The area has long been transformed into oasis for the production of cryptovatuluts, even though this is banned in Kosovo, because the process requires staggering amounts of electricity.

According to Kosovo Customs data, only during 2017 and 2018 were equipment imported for the production of 3m euros worth of cryptovatlutes.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said that because of Serbia's actions, Kosovo has lost over 300m euros in electricity and water bills, which Serbs in the north have not paid since 1999.

By 2013, the two countries have made several agreements in the field of energy, but things have moved forward.

Eyes now are on an agreement Kosovo and Serbia have reached on February 27th and envisioning implementation of all agreements reached earlier, including those for energy. /rel