The first meeting of the National Investment Council is held

During this meeting, the Council approved the Rules and Procedures as well as the funding for the first phase of Route 10. Furthermore, they approved the methodology for selection and prioritization of infrastructure projects, and also discussed the list of preliminary infrastructure projects.

On this occasion, Minister of European Integration, Mr. Çollaku, announced that, this council that will coordinate the process of financing of infrastructure projects in the country, aims to ensure synergy between the different sources of funding, namely the budget, loans and grants.

“Our goal is that by November we have prepared a Priority projects list in the field of transportation, energy and environment, to continue then with infrastructure issues in the social sector, but at the same time consider the inclusion of other sectors, as the application of the methodology for prioritization of infrastructure projects is now the official criteria of the European Commission”, he said as he explained the methodology of the selection and prioritization of infrastructure projects.

Whereas, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Avdullah Hoti has stated that the MoF together with MEI worked closely to make the establishment of the National Investment Committee a reality and a booster of improving the management of public finances and at the same time important in the alignment with the European Union.

“The role of the Committee will be important for the wider review of the Government priorities which will determine the country’s development level as for the improvement of education, health, sufficient supply of affordable energy by dynamics of increased demand, improvement of drinking water supply and irrigation of farming land, as well as shortening the time of road and rail transportation”, said Minister Hoti.
The chargé d’affaires of the European Union Office, Mr. Christof Stock, said that the National Investment Council is of special importance for Kosovo to benefit from EU funds available for strategic investments that link the Western Balkan countries among themselves and with EU member states. “In particular, we are looking at major investment projects in transportation, energy, environment and social infrastructure for which has been allocated the amount of 1.4 billion euro for the period 2014-2020, within the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF)” he added.

In this meeting, beside the ministers members of the council, were present the representatives of embassies and international organizations.

Last year, under the leadership of Chancellor Merkel was organized the Western Balkans meeting in Berlin with the goal of accordance of regional priorities for infrastructure investments in the Western Balkans known as “Connectivity Agenda”. After the Berlin meeting, 3 more meetings were held, ie meeting of Belgrade, Pristina and recently Brussels meeting, and now after several months of work progress will be consolidated with the Vienna Summit to be held on August 27 of this year.

Within the “Western Balkans 6” meetings, Western Balkan countries were accorded for the establishment of the National Investment Committees, an obligation that stems from the Berlin process. These committees are the platform through which they will discuss funding plans for each step of the projects related to the Priority List of Infrastructure Projects. For these projects, the EU has provided 1.4 billion euro in the framework of the Berlin process.