American Ambassador to Kosovo Geoffrey Hovenier and representatives of the European Union (EU) today welcomed the decision of the Kosovo government to lift the ban on the import of goods from Serbia and assessed that move as an important step towards European integration.
Hovenier said that the lifting of that ban leads Kosovo towards European integration and encourages free trade.
"I am satisfied with the decision of the Government of Kosovo to lift the ban on the import of finished products from Serbia. This is an important step in the right direction for Kosovo, on its path to European integration. We appreciate our international partners for their continuous efforts to promote free trade in the region," he wrote. American ambassador.
In a post on Facebook, the EU stated that free trade in goods throughout the Western Balkans is "key to the functioning of the common regional market, which is an integral part of the Growth Plan, for the benefit of people and the economy."
Yesterday, the Government of Kosovo decided to lift the ban on the import of goods from Serbia, which was introduced earlier due to security reasons.
Kosovo suspended imports from Serbia last year, after the arrest of three Kosovo policemen by Serbian forces and after rising tensions in the north and suspicions that weapons were being smuggled along with the goods.
In the meantime, the measures have been changed, so the import of raw materials and semi-finished products needed for final production is allowed.
Germany recently threatened Kosovo that it will not be able to participate in the Berlin Process summit on October 14 if it does not lift the ban on importing goods from Serbia.
According to the German envoy for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarazin, this Kosovo ban blocks the work of the Balkan Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).
Bonus video:
