Coalition split threatened if Kosovan government fails to scrap Serbia tariffs

By bne IntelliNews March 4, 2019

Kosovo’s parliament speaker, Kadri Veseli, said on March 4 that the government should respect the US calls for lifting 100% tariffs on Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, or the ruling coalition may collapse, media reported.

US and EU officials have repeatedly urged Kosovo to scrap the tariffs in order to continue the dialogue with Serbia, and find long-term agreements needed for the countries’ EU aspirations. The tariffs were imposed in November 2018, after Kosovo failed to join Interpol due to Serbian pressure on other countries to vote against. The measure has damaged Serbian traders.

“Any government in the country that endangers relations with the US may fall,” Veseli, from the Democratic Party of Kosovo, one of the main coalition partners in the government, was cited by broadcaster RTK.

Kosovan Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, from the Alliance for Kosovo's Future Party, has insisted the tariffs must remain in place until Belgrade recognises Kosovo as a separate country.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but it is still not recognised by Belgrade. Both are engaged in EU-mediated talks on normalisation of their relations, but the talks stalled after the imposition of the tariffs.

Serbia says it will not participate in further negotiations until the tariffs are revoked.

Meanwhile the leader of the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, said that the sole solution to the deadlock with the tariffs is holding a snap general election.

 

Related Articles

EIB surpasses investment milestone in the Western Balkans by investing €1.2bn in 2023

EIB Global, the financial arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for activities beyond the EU, set a new record by investing €1.2bn in the Western Balkans in 2023, the EIB said on February 9. ... ... more

bne IntelliNews Southeast Europe Outlook 2024

This Southeast Europe Outlook 2024 has been prepared by bne IntelliNews as part of a series of annual reviews providing updates on the geopolitical, macroeconomic and commercial state of ... more

Kosovo's central bank enhances efficiency of payment system with regulatory amendments

Kosovo's central bank announced its approval of amendments to the regulation on the Kosovo Interbank Payment System (KIPS) in a move aimed at bolstering the efficiency of payment ... more

Dismiss