Zulfaj for EU funds: If we don't have institutions, we lose 100m euros.

On the “Week interview in Kosova Prerss, he said Kosovo would hand over its first report on implementation of the Reforms Agency (which contains 111 steps) on the basis it is expected to seek the release of more than 100m euros belonging to the Growth Plan on 15 July.

Following the report's handover, the European Commission will have three months to verify whether reforms are implemented according to agreed criteria, and then decide on the allocation of funds.

Zulfaj stressed that financial means are not automatically transferred, but are directly related to meeting any obligation taken from Kosovo under the Development Plan.

We, with the Development Plan, should send a report every six months to the European Union for progress on the reform agenda. The reform agenda has 111 steps, which are set up by our institutions as reforms... We until June 30th, have fulfilled 18 steps. From these 18 steps, we will see what the Commission's assessment will be. On July 15th, we will submit the report along with the evidence of completion of the steps. The European Union has been able for three months to make an assessment of our report, along with the evidence that it is attached, to assess whether it stands as we have reported it, and the moment each step is positively proven that has been achieved, then each step has a lot of funds that should be over 100 million euros in bills, let's say, for the release of the funds that we're going to ask for at this stage. Of course, it would be much more if the agreement were to go into effect earlier, even if we had a Assembly that works”, he said.

Zulfaj estimated that delays caused by the political crisis in recent months have directly affected the pace of reforms. Of the 13 steps that had to be completed by June 30th, seven have been realised, while six have been put on hold, mainly because they seek the adoption of laws from the Parliament.

According to the chief negotiator, this situation has cost Kosovo about 40m euros of funds considered lost because they were not “named” at the right time.

He said the remaining reforms have not been abandoned and that they could be approved by the new legislature, but delays have financial consequences affecting implementation of the Growth Plan.

We have 13 steps until June 30th. Out of them 7 result in fulfillment and 6 that have not been completed. Among them are five steps required laws. As you know, the main part maybe of this reform, and then I'll make you a difference because the reforms will be done. You know there are six laws of reform in justice, which were kind of a property of justice... About 31) So all this is going to be done, because it's for the good of citizens and of the Republic and it's reform. And of course, but it's harmful that they haven't been completed, let's say in the June 30th, but it can already be done in the new legislature. It could be a month late. And who should get the bill for these two months in the absence of a loss of funds? I think we should see a lot last year. He lost all year. Not only is there 40 million euros worth of lost. But I had added here, another 20m euros and more than they cost us last December 10th and June 7th” elections, Zulfaj added.

Regarding funds that cannot be withdrawn within deadlines, Zulfaj explained that the decision on their destiny belongs to the European Union. According to him, they can re-enter to other countries in the region, return to the form of technical assistance for Kosovo, or remain in the EU budget.

Speaking of political responsibility for the loss of these tools, Zulfaj said the 2025 institutional blockade has affected the failure to achieve targets for 2026, while insisting that political issues should not prevent processes related to the benefit of European funds.

He stressed that the Assembly should ensure the adoption of reforms even if consensus is lacking on other political topics, as projects funded by the Growth Plan are directly related to citizens' interest.

He also warned that if there is no political agreement and reconciliation by the end of the year Kosovo could face another challenge, implying the potential risk of losing another 100 million. This is due to the fact that by December 31st dozens of other steps of the Reforms Agency should be implemented, for which they are located in the Assembly.

According to Zulfaj, these tools are destined for investments in infrastructure, education, justice, digitalisation and other development areas, so he called on all forces to show responsibility and not allow political clashes to block reforms and European Union funds.

Zulfaj has called on opposition parties that, even “if they decide not to make the quorum for the president's election and then take the country to the elections”, at least not to prevent the adoption of necessary reforms in the Assembly, even by accelerated procedure, on which much benefits may come from the European Union's Growth Plan.

The growth plan is a new framework of the EU that promotes accelerated reforms for European integration of the entire Western Balkan region, which combines reforms with direct financial contributions from European Union funds to the budgets of profitable countries and investment projects.

With the implementation of these reforms being required, but which still needs the state, Kosovo will benefit up to 882.6m euros in EU funds. Of this total amount, 253.3m euros are grants, while the rest of the 629.3m euros are long-term loans. /Periscope