European Commission and Kosovo discuss Internal Market, Competition, Health and Consumer Protection issues

The meeting held in Brussels allowed reviewing the progress Kosovo made since the publication of the last Progress report and the Feasibility Study for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and Kosovo, and to identify steps that Kosovo should take in the near future to advance in the EU’s Stabilisation and Association Process.

The topics discussed in the meeting are essential to ensure a level playing field allowing for improvements in the business environment. The Commission stressed that these policies also accompany the liberalisation of trade in goods and services, which would be one of the core elements of a potential Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Kosovo.

Among the topics discussed, particular attention was dedicated to free movement of goods, competition and public procurement. In the area of free movement of goods, legislative developments as well the administrative capacity, were discussed and assessed. The Kosovan  authorities presented the planned amendments to the legislation in the areas of competition and public procurement,. The EC urged Kosovo to continue the alignment with the EU standards and good practices.
The meeting was part of the regular dialogue under the Stabilisation and Association Process Dialogue.

Background information

The Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) Dialogue is a framework under which the European Commission and the Kosovo administration regularly discuss technical and policy issues in relation to the European agenda.  The SAP Dialogue monitors and accompanies Kosovo’s delivery on reforms, and identifies how the EU can assist in this process. Sectoral and plenary SAP Dialogue meetings are co-chaired by the European Commission and the government. Each meeting results in jointly agreed follow-up actions to be taken by the Kosovo authorities.

There are seven areas covered in sectoral meetings and they follow closely the format of the dialogue that the EU has with other candidates and potential candidates. These seven sectors are:

– 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, Forestry, Food Safety
– Transport, Environment, Energy, Regional Development
– Economic and Financial Issues, Statistics

The time between the meetings allows for the implementation of the recommendations and agreed follow-up actions. A plenary meeting, where the reform priorities will be discussed, is expected to take place in July 2013.