Zulfaj: Kosovo has lost 43.8 million euros from the Growth Plan

Kosovo has lost 43.8 million euros from the European Union's Growth Plan, after failing to complete six of the 13 reform steps that were due by June this year due to a political blockade, Kosovo's chief negotiator with the EU and national coordinator for the Growth Plan, Jeton Zulfaj, has announced.

Reporting to the European Integration Committee, Zulfaj said that out of the 13 steps foreseen in the additional period until June 2026, Kosovo has managed to implement seven, while six others have not been fulfilled within the specified deadline.

He announced that the total value of the Growth Plan for Kosovo is 882.6 million euros, of which two-thirds are loans linked to 111 reform steps, which must be completed by the end of August next year.

"As you know, the Growth Plan for Kosovo is worth 882.6 million euros, of which 2/3 are loans linked to 111 reform steps, until the end of August next year. On July 15 of this year, we submitted the first request for payment, with 20 steps implemented, worth 153.4 million euros. The final amount will be withheld from the assessment of the European Union, in which case we believe that in these first days of November they will make known how realistic the accurate assessment will be. Out of 13 steps in the additional period, until June 2026, we implemented seven and six did not. It is estimated that over 40 million euros, or more precisely 43.8 million euros, were lost by the June deadline," he said.

Zulfaj emphasized that most of the unfulfilled reforms required the approval of draft laws in the Assembly, at a time when this institution was fragmented.

However, he said that these reforms have returned to the process and are intended to be adopted this year, including the laws on energy and bankruptcy, the legal package on justice, and the strategy against organized crime.

The Chief Negotiator has warned that by December 31, Kosovo must complete 22 more steps, worth 131.5 million euros.

According to him, ten acts must be approved in the Assembly, while some of the draft laws are expected to be processed by the Government.

"We now have 22 steps worth 131.5 million euros ahead of us, which expire on December 31. So, there are still 59 days left, 10 acts must be passed in this Assembly, the draft law on innovation and entrepreneurship is already in the Assembly, while the Government will bring the others for approval. Depending on the delays caused by the European Commission, in sending comments, because part of the process of the steps is also the consultation with the European Union, with the European Commission, where each step, especially in the steps of the laws, is required that in addition to the public consultations that we have as part of the process, the European Union must also be consulted, and the European Union requires somewhere around 90 days to return these comments and this then causes other delays that delay the laws. The laws that I believe should come by the end of November, the draft law on innovation, as I said, are here; the draft law on public procurement, on public-private partnership", he said Zulfaj.