“One year after the entry into force of the SAA: Are we getting closer to the integration in the EU?”

Prishtina, 27 February 2017 – Today, under the auspices of the Group for Legal and Political Studies was held a discussion table, whereby Minister of European Integration, Ms. Mimoza Ahmetaj, was part of the discussion panel.

The topic of discussion was “One year after the entry into force of the SAA: Are we getting closer to the integration in the EU?”

This event aimed to communicate the progress made so far in accomplishing the objectives deriving from the Action Plan for Implementation of SAA, challenges encountered until now and the role of key institutions on implementing the reforms required by the Stabilisation and Association agreement in the short-term plan, and to what extent have the structures for managing this process been established, in a period of less than one full year.
The entry into force of the SAA marked the first chapter in terms of Kosovo’s integration process. Prior to the entry into force of the SAA, Kosovo had no formal relations with the EU.

Minister Ahmetaj stated the following: “The entry into force of the SAA has established new legal grounds for the Kosovo-EU relations, and has also established a new dialogue between two entities in the international arena. SAA has recognized Kosovo’s legal and political subjectivity as a party to the European and international arena by means of an international treaty. Article 141 of the SAA has, for the first time, recognized the territory of Kosovo and underlined that the SAA shall be implemented in the territory of Kosovo”.

Moreover, Minister Ahmetaj stated that the SAA contains clear provisions that stipulate obligation on the part of EU to accomplish Kosovo’s European perspective. The SAA has created new institutional structures between Kosovo and the EU, as well as a new political dialogue. Minister Ahmetaj mentioned some of the key points that will be affected by the SAA, stating that: “Market liberalization will increase companies’ competitiveness and ensure better prices for citizens, industrial and agricultural products shall be exported to the EU without customs fees, the SAA shall positively influence the foreign direct investments, etc.

Also, Minister Ahmetaj expressed her gratitude to the representatives of civil society for their cooperation so far, and particularly to the members of Committees of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo. The minister also thanked them for their commitment as partners to this process, and contributing to the implementation of the SAA, considering that this reflects the improvement of life for Kosovo citizens.

Whereas, implementation of the SAA has already, in its very first year, commenced generating visible results, and these results are taking shape in both economic and political terms. The SAA has created a new political environment, via the EU programs, from which the citizens’ directly benefit. Moreover, the Government of Kosovo this year has planned an accurate budgeting for the National Plan for the Implementation of the Stabilisation and Association agreement (NPISAA).

During the debate, the importance of the SAA as a key mechanism for Kosovo’s European perspective was once more reaffirmed.

Last modified: August 10, 2022