Drift-region for new taxes in Pristina, Rafuna: Every tax on business is carried to the citizen

In an interview for Online Economy, Rafuna said that the Economic Oda has not yet held discussions with the Pristina municipality on the content of the draft regulation and that it is early to provide a full assessment of the effects it may have on businesses.

Rafuna said that after the end of public consultation, they expect to hold meetings with municipal officials and business associations to analyse the impact of the proposed measures.

We didn't have a conversation with the municipality in terms of draft regulations. It's draft policy, we expect at a certain moment to have a meeting and see what the effects of this regulation will be on business, if it goes into effect. We always demand that businesses not be loaded, that any tax on businesses, in the end, is the operational cost to the citizen. That the citizen is at the bottom of the consumer, who consumes either products produced or receives services from business, so it is too early to give such an assessment; yet, as you said, it is in public question”, he said.

According to him, the most vulnerable sectors are transport and construction, due to their operation on Pristina territory by means and machinery registered in other municipalities.

And we're expecting, when public discussion is over, to have municipal officials at a meeting and to discuss, but even with our businesses inside, we'll discuss it, with the associations, especially, these guys affect the transportation society, whether it's goods or travellers, or the construction association, when it's known that they're running around within the day, they have machines that they have registered in other municipalities. And they operate in Pristina, so we need to see what are the opportunities for business not to be charged with this” tax, he said.

The OEK chairman said there is still uncertainty about the manner of implementing some of the proposed measures and called for additional clarifications by the municipality prior to the regulation's adoption.

For us it's unclear, because according to public appearances, as much as we can afford without, the tax is said to be imposed only for cars, but not for machines or tools. That's why I'm probably vague. The second, if any taxes are imposed, that setting any taxes, that is extra costs for business. And of course, as I said, it carries the consumer that it increases the price. So we still call on the municipality officials to have a meeting so that, in the nearest term, before this regulation goes out for a vote, before it can be finalised, we can also have a meeting so that we can clarify more about how it will be implemented and what it's going to affect, what this regulation is object to,”, he said.

He added that, in addition to the content of the measures, the importance is the time to implement them.

Look, you should see the moment. Sometimes it's very fair, very good decisions, but it needs to be more and more days when it's the best moment to get into force and start with the applic. So, I believe that municipal officials have also assessed this issue and the date of entry into force, or month, or year, I believe it will be considered again”, he said.

The Pristina municipality has issued for public consultation Draft-Rulet for change and completion of regulations for tariffs, cargo and municipal penalties. Public consultations began on May 13th 2026 and will last until June 24th 2026.

The regulation project envisions changes in business taxation, setting annual tariffs according to the type of economic activity. Various business categories, including the construction, trade, hotel, private health, private education, banks, telecommunications and professional services, are included in the draft.

The document also envisions the release of municipal tax payments to new businesses during the first year of registration, as well as a 50 per cent reduction for women and girls-owned businesses during the first two years of operation.

According to the draft, businesses with more than one business unit will also be taxed for their entities, while headquarters businesses outside Pristina, but with activity on the capital's territory, will undergo municipal tariffs for entities operating in Pristina.

The bill of regulation includes the introduction of a 1-euro per person accommodation tax every night to stay in accommodation facilities, as well as the duty of operators to collect, report and transfer this tax to the municipality.

The document also contains provisions for billing, payment, complaints and collection of municipal duties, as well as transitional provisions for gradual implementation of new tariffs. /Periscope/