At the discussion table about the legal initiative related to the amendment and completion of the Law on vehicles, initiated by the deputy of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) Mergim Lushtaku, representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce and traffic experts were against removing the criteria for the import of cars older than ten years, this for reasons as expressed by those of the local environmental protection.
Deputy Lushtaku, during the justification of this legal initiative, has emphasized that in no country in Europe is there a restriction on the import of cars for ten years. He stated that in European countries there is only Euro diesel standard 4, and added that they are also for preserving the environment in Kosovo.
"In European countries, we only have the Euro 4 diesel standard, there is no ten-year or 15-year standard. In Europe, based on the research we have had with various experts, the ban never lasts for years, but the ban is only with Euro diesel 4. Therefore, this restriction has also been a punishment for the citizens, because while the cars come especially from Germany and Switzerland, they certainly have to meet the criteria, the standards that Europe also has, and of course we also aim for those standards. Regarding the age of the cars in Kosovo, it is certainly old and I believe that this would have enabled the citizens, if they have a 2005 car, to buy a 2007-2008 car because of the economic standard, but always preserve the environment, because my focus as a deputy is not only to save citizens' pockets, but at the same time to have an environment where we also raise our families in Kosovo", said Lushtaku.
At this table, articles (44, 63) where the criteria for the import of cars and the change of ownership are defined, were treated with special focus.
From the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo, Vesa Sahatçiu, has stated that their position remains that cars older than ten years cannot be imported, due to the preservation of the environment, as she said.
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"We, as a chamber, have always had positions exactly on Article 44 that cars older than ten years cannot be imported, and we still have the same position that these cars should not be imported, because the country of Kosovo is already facing levels very high pollution. So we need to think more about the environment", she emphasized. Even the German Chamber of Commerce is in favor of protecting the environment", she emphasized.
Even representatives from the German-Kosovo Chamber of Commerce had the same attitude as the American Chamber.
Whereas, for this attitude of the chambers, the deputy from PDK, Lushtaku has challenged these chambers that if there is any country in Europe, he will withdraw this legal initiative.
"Therefore, I also understand the concern of some organizations, but it is not reasonable to justify the lack of control of Kosovo's institutions and their incompetence and then punish the citizens for not having the opportunity to control those vehicles if they are not up to standard in accordance with Europe... (End ready) I invite you Chambers of Commerce to challenge me in the aspect that if there is in the EU and any other country that has banned cars for years, then I am also in order and of course I will withdraw this initiative . As far as I am informed by various experts, we only have conditions in the standard, where I am also the highest Euro-diesel standards 5-6", he emphasized.
Traffic expert, Muhamed Krasniqi, has emphasized that he understands the concern of MP Lushtaku, but according to him, Kosovo should not become a moving depot for motor vehicles.
"I understand the concern of the MP and a group of you here. I also have a 1988 vehicle, and I hold onto that vehicle with much love. But we have to think about how the Government should create facilities for citizens to have new vehicles. Kosovo, with these actions that allowed the importation of old vehicles, we are turning the country into mobile depots with motor vehicles. While Europe cleans its roads of old vehicles, they are falling in Kosovo and we are dealing with those vehicles", he declared.
This initiative of the deputy Lushtaku found support from the Association of Technical Controls in Kosovo.
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Rrustem Nika from this association has emphasized that the removal of the restriction on the age of vehicles does not present a problem, but added that derivatives remain challenging.
"In terms of technical controls, this law does not pose a problem for us, neither this article nor article 44. Based on the principles that each vehicle has its own specifics. For us, the biggest concern is in derivatives. We don't have a problem with Euro-4, but we have problems with new cars because the derivatives are not qualitative", he declared./ KP
