Pristina, 23 March 2023 – Officials from Kosovo and the European Commission held the regular annual sub-committee and discussed the progress and developments over the past year in the areas of energy, environment, climate, transport and regional development. The discussion was held in the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) which entered into force in April 2016. The reform topics covered by this meeting are directly relevant for the Kosovo economy including the infrastructure as well as the well-being of citizens.
It was agreed that strategies, action plans and legislation should be assessed to ensure coherence with the principles and priorities of the EU priority Green Deal initiative and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, and to ensure coherence between relevant documents in each sector.
As regards energy, the Commission welcomed the adoption of the Energy Strategy 2022-2031, which will be key for providing the basis for decarbonisation while maintaining energy security and ensuring affordable supply, while increasing development of alternative energy sources, and invited Kosovo to start the implementation of the implementation programme. Following the disbursement of the first tranche of the Energy Support Package, the Commission invited Kosovo to implement the action plan including necessary steps to operationalise the Energy Efficiency Fund and to ensure its extension to the residential sector, and called for further efforts to improve energy efficiency measures for private households. It also called for a number of pending laws and other reforms to be approved in accordance with Energy Treaty deadlines.
On the environment, the Commission noted the progress on adoption of laws during 2022 and expressed concern at limited progress in implementation of the legal and strategic framework. In particular, the Commission emphasized the need of increasing capacities and efforts to ensure higher level of implementation in waste management, water sector and mainstreaming environment in other policies.
As concerns climate action, Kosovo has adopted the Strategy and Action Plan on Climate Change, but further efforts are needed to improve its implementation, as well as making progress on a National Environment and Climate Plan.
The latest legislative and policy developments in the area of transport were also discussed. The Commission welcomed the proactive participation of Kosovo in the Transport Community. The Commission invited Kosovo to continue work linked to road safety, in the interest of citizens. The Commission also presented the latest developments on the Urban Mobility Policy and the concept of sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs), which can support efforts of Kosovo to ensure a quicker transition towards greener, healthier and inclusive transport in cities. Both sides agreed on the need to continue reforms, including strengthening the independence and capacities of regulatory institutions in the transport sector.
Finally, on regional development, the Commission welcomed the adoption of the regional development Law and called for the adoption of the regional development action plan.
Background information
- The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) is the framework for the EU and the Kosovo administration to regularly discuss technical and policy issues in relation to the European agenda. The SAA bodies include the Stabilisation and Association Council, assisted by the Stabilisation and Association Committee, as well as SAA Sub-Committees, which cover a wide range of the EU acquis. The meetings of the SAA bodies provide direct input into the European Commission’s annual reports.
- Each Sub-Committee meeting monitors and accompanies Kosovo’s delivery on reforms and identifies how the EU can assist in this process.
- There are seven areas covered through sectorial meetings of sub-Committees, on Justice, Freedom and Security; Innovation, Information Society, Social Policy, Education and Culture; Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation; Internal Market, Competition, Consumer and Health Protection; Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Safety; Transport, Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Regional Development; Economic and Financial Issues, Statistics.
- Two other areas covered through the meetings of special groups are the reform of the public administration and normalisation of relations with Serbia.
SA Committee and Sub-Committee meetings are co-chaired by the European Commission and Kosovo. Each meeting results in jointly agreed follow-up actions to be taken by the Kosovo authorities. The conclusions from the meetings will be available soon on the websites of the EU Office in Kosovo and Office of the Prime Minister
Last modified: March 29, 2023
