8 hours agoKosovo with hundreds of millions of euros suspended, some missing from EU punitive measures
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)Since June 2023, Kosovo has been imposed on several punitive measures by the European Union. Now, almost two years later, they are finally slowly leaving with much confusion. But the damage caused so far totals hundreds of millions of euros. A report published today by the Institute for Advanced Studies [...]
A report published today by the Institute for Advanced Studies, GAP, says the measures have cost Kosovo about 615m euros in suspended or extended projects indefinitely, while 7.1m euros have been lost after the allowed deadlines have been exceeded, submitted. Periscope.
“These delays in starting the implementation of projects mean postponing or losing opportunities for growth, development and improvement of citizens' welfare, as well as negatively affecting the prospect of European integration”, the GAP Institute communiqué said.
Why were the measures established, and how are they being removed?
The EU punished Kosovo in June 2023, because, as it estimated, the role of the Government of Kosovo in promoting ethnic tensions in the country's north -- the Serb-populated area.
Since then, Kosovo political leaders have repeatedly called for lifting these measures, calling them unfair, writes Radio Free Europe.
Last week, during her visit to Pristina, EU diplomacy chief Kaya Kallas said the European bloc has begun to lift Kosovo's measures gradually, but provided it reduces tensions in the Serb-run north.
But even this news has brought uncertainty, since it is not yet known which measures are exactly being removed and on what deadlines.
Radio Free Europe learned from its sources in Brussels that the measures that have been lifted concern the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (MSA), the first contractual pact between Kosovo and the European bloc, and the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans (WBIF).
Meanwhile, Klisman Kadiu, from the acting deputy prime minister's office for European Integration, Development and Dialogue, Besnik Bislimi, has said that “The EU will soon begin with the functioning and holding of SAA subcommittee meetings with Kosovo”.
What exactly did Kosovo miss out on the measures?
The measures, according to the GAP Institute report, affected around 395m euros of tools under W BIFFs aimed at developing socio-economic and European perspectives of Western Balkan countries and about 218m euros under the IPA programme offering financial and technical assistance to countries targeting the EU.
These vehicles were planned to be spent on project implementation, which would be financed through grants and loans.
Even though the deal for The 2024 IPA had not been connected and signed, projects planned under it totaled 56.4m euros.
But more than software funds I PA, Kosovo has lost in monetary value from measures affecting projects under the Investing Framework for the Western Balkans (WBIF).
Kosovo's “Applications under the Investigative Framework for the Western Balkans (WBIF) delivered during the 1920s and 2024 years have not passed further for approval. As a result, several key projects, which were co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), the German Development Bank (KFW) and other international institutions, are not being implemented”, the GAP Institute report says.
The suspended projects worth 395.5m euros included, among other things: extending the water supply and sewer network in Pristina, the water treatment facility at Ferizaj, the Kosovo Albanian Interconnective Power Line, construction of the flood and irrigation infrastructure.
“Examination of such investments has brought immediate and long-term consequences, such as delays in building infrastructure, loss of employment opportunities, worsening living conditions, and obstruction in meeting environmental and integration objectives”, the GAP Institute report says.
