EU justifies concern over Mediterranean Games Law

The European Union Office in Pristina has justified the request not to approve the Law on the Mediterranean Games, as it was sponsored by the Government. This was not taken into account by the Speaker of Parliament Albulena Haxhiu, during the decision-making process in the Assembly. And, the EU justified the request.

The European Union has expressed its position that it shares common aspirations with the citizens of Kosovo, in response to the statement of the Speaker of the Parliament, Albulena Haxhiu, who, at Thursday's session, where the Law on the Mediterranean Games was approved, said that she takes into account the interests of citizens more than the EU's concerns about this document.

The EU Office in Kosovo, through a letter sent on Wednesday to the Speaker of the Parliament, expressed concern that the adoption of the Law as such risks increasing vulnerability to corruption.

And, in a response that this Office gave to KOĞA, it is said that they have the same goal as the citizens, which is: the integration of Kosovo into the EU. According to this office, in the function of this is also advising on laws in accordance with EU rules.

"We do this also by advising Kosovo institutions on how to approximate Kosovo's legislation with the EU acquis. As you know, the EU is Kosovo's strongest and most reliable partner and largest provider of financial assistance, and we are here to help Kosovo continue to progress towards the EU," the EU Office in Kosovo says. 

In the letter sent to Haxhiu, the EU stressed that it is concerning that special rules that bypass the Public Procurement Law will be applied to investments worth 254 million euros for the organization of the Mediterranean Games.

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"The Organizing Committee of the Mediterranean Games (OCMG), as envisaged in the draft law, appears to be unrelated to existing public procurement laws, but instead, is envisaged to establish its own procurement rules based on unclear principles."

The law provides that the Organizing Committee shall issue regulations regarding procurement.

Representatives of the ruling party said in the session that the approval of this law in its current form was due to delays and the risk that the Assembly would be dissolved.

However, Kosovo received the green light to organize these games 2 years and 7 months ago.
Through an accelerated procedure, the parliamentary majority led by Vetëvendosje approved the law in the Assembly in the last session of the eighth legislature, 1 year and 3 months later.

The approved law was challenged in the Constitutional Court by the PDK and after a year and 1 month the Court declared the approval procedure unconstitutional.

Vetëvendosje blamed PDK for the criticism of the delays, and the Ministry of Sports blamed the municipalities.
But even now, the Government sent the draft law to the Assembly two months after its formation.

Foreign Policy Expert Donika Emini says that if Kosovo risks organizing these games due to political blockades, it would be a major failure in its international image.

"The fact that not only because of the political crisis but also the frictions that we constantly see between the central and local levels could have a detrimental effect on the organization and preparation of Kosovo in this regard. Therefore, it would be a very bad image for Kosovo. And, it would reflect what everyone in the region has constantly tried to portray Kosovo as a country that has fundamental problems of functioning," said Emini. 

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Pristina will be the organizer of the 2030 Mediterranean Games, in which 26 countries from three continents are expected to participate.