The main topic of the meeting of the two governments, that of Kosovo and Albania, was customs agreements between the two countries and the removal of customs barriers and non-tariff tariffs.
The president of 'Biznes Albania', Luan Bregasi, in a show on 'News24', while commenting on the Albania-Kosovo customs agreement, emphasized that so far no tariff has moved. He said that there is clientelistic interference in Albanian politics by Kosovar government officials.
"It was the 5th year that our governments met. We as entrepreneurs support these initiatives, to facilitate our businesses from a bureaucratic point of view, to remove non-tariff barriers. But I think that there are no administrative instruments to resolve those that are signed from a political point of view. There is political will, but when the meeting ends, nothing is done. No fees move and no barriers move. In my view, there is no solution to political decisions. In my view, the government of Kosovo is not serious in what it decides. We have noticed that some (Kosovar) government officials interfere in our policies. If there is customer interference, it means that we have applied the rules between the two countries", said Bregasi.
Nikolin Jaka, the head of the Chamber of Commerce in Albania, said that the joint meetings between the two governments are welcomed by businesses, but in practice, according to him, they do not bring any product. He also said that there was no talk of removing tariff barriers.
"Normally, we have waited for the government meetings, but none of them have brought a product. I did not hear the removal of barriers, but customs unification between the two countries. It is the first time it has been done. But we have a physical union, a sports union. We have two roofs, but two counters. It is something that we still do not understand what the agenda and objective is. We know that roaming, a telephone cost, has been removed," said Jaka.
also
Prattipati: Tariff removal increases opportunities for American and Kosovar businesses
Meanwhile, economic expert Adrian Civici stated that with this agreement the political will for customs union was expressed.
"This time the customs barriers were connected with the decision of the Kosovo government to impose 100% tax on Serbian goods. Customs unification is a broad concept. We will make a common customs. But if we say customs union, it requires common economic space and the elimination of customs between the two countries. With the customs union, the element of economic cooperation begins. In this case, some mitigating steps were taken. If we consider the trade barriers, we have suffered. Albania has not suffered on the ferry with Kosovo. But it has suffered in the case of milk, which has to do with product standards. In some cases, we also have international standards. In the framework of these barriers, tariff, administrative, in this case there was political will. It seemed to me more of a reaction to what happened to Serbia", claimed Civici.
Civici said that the correct term that should be used is customs unification since it is about easing procedures between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Fatmir Limaj, in a telephone connection with the studio, said that under the role of coordinator, he is examining all the problems with the working groups.
"Attention is raised to solve the problems inside and across the border. We are here to solve those that are in the interest of both sides of the border", said Limaj.
"It was the most organized and concrete meeting of the two governments in the last 5 years. Our insistence was that the agreements become concrete, and not in vain without consultation as for PR. It was the most productive meeting so far", said the Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Fatmir Limaj.
He said that, as the National Coordinator of the two governments, the first thing he will do is that our business mechanisms will be the main partners of his commitment to work, to be fully involved in the implementation of what we discussed.
"We have agreed on 3-4 things that have a time limit. First, all certificates must be recognized in Tirana and Pristina, not verified twice. So is the issue of tariff barriers. There are barriers, there is bureaucracy and problems of various natures. The business of Tirana and Pristina to move products from one place to another is bad. Let's start with the free movement of citizens, start with the removal of licenses, the removal of barriers", said Limaj.
The president of 'Biznes Albania', Luan Bregasi, said that some institutions are needed to administer these political wills.
"We are making efforts for customs union, to remove barriers, non-tariff fees, but basically some products that come from Kosovo have a lower tax than when products of the same nature go to Albania. We pay triple. In addition to these measures, you should equalize taxes with Albania. There can be no economic union when we have 3 times higher taxes", stressed Bregasi.
also
US welcomes removal of customs tariff from Kosovo
Meanwhile, Limaj said that now we have to sit down and solve all of them one by one. "Here the concern has been raised that the amount of beer imported from Kosovo to Albania, while from Albania to Kosovo is unlimited".
Further, Bregasi said that Birra Peja is sold more in Albania than in Kosovo.
"Korça Beer is also sold all over Kosovo. Kosovo's business in Tirana should not be seen as a threat, nor Albania's business in Pristina", said Limaj, while Bregasi added: "We should not feel jealous of each other's products, we should even stimulate fair competition".
In October of this year, Albanian beer producers sent a letter to Prime Minister Edi Rama, where they expressed their concern about the heavy burden of taxes and duties that these industries pay.
Luan Bregasi, who is also the producer of 'Tirana' beer, claimed that after the package that was proposed to the Ministry of Finance, the reduction of the excise duty on plastic and glass packaging was requested.
Meanwhile, economic experts explained how the price of water, energy and fuel affects the increase in the cost of beer production, while bringing examples of countries in the region.
"The package that we proposed to the Ministry of Finance is a reduction of the excise duty on plastic and glass. But they are tight movements. The excise tax was imposed in 2012 by the Berisha government. The second reason is that this excise duty should be removed at all, because we also have returnable packaging. It captures the value of 35-40 of the cost", said Bregasi.
And Nikolin Jaka said that beer is more favored. "Beer has a production support. The division of beer according to the quantity produced, up to 200, has a control excise".
The economy expert, Ardian Civici, said that in addition to beer, there are also other drinks. "Why are we competing with imported products? Are we missing technology? Where is the problem, that we compete for the same product".
also
Kosovo removes 10 percent tariff on products from the US
Bregasi said that the price of water here is higher, while Kosovo has it three times cheaper, as well as Macedonia.
"The price of energy for business, we accepted, but it is high. We ask that this 25% lower this cost, and serves the industries. We are the only country in the world where beer has a stamp. The reason was allegedly to fight tax evasion. But it was not really set with this goal for the benefit of a private concessionaire, which only deals with one room. The company is called 'Sipka' and the administrators are Albanians, which was established in a village in Switzerland, offshore. This company invented the tax stamp concession. If this money, which is 25 million euros per year, goes to the state budget, we agree to pay it. We have told this to the government as well. But given to a private person who today is among the 10 richest in Albania, who takes money from us, this is not right. In addition, if they want to protect against fiscal evasion, why should they put the figure at 28 euros for 1 thousand pieces? When they put it the way Kosovo has it, 3 euros, but not for beer. They have it for drinks and wines", said Bregasi.
