PRISTINA (Kosovo), December 18 (SeeNews) – The introduction of increased tariffs on imports from Serbia and Bosnia damages the economic interests of Kosovo and its people, the Stabilisation and Association Council (SA Council) between the European Union and Kosovo said.
These tariffs reduce trade flows and diminish Kosovo’s attractiveness as a place for investment and business, the SA Council said in a statement late on Monday following its meeting in Brussels.
On November 21, Kosovo government said it has decided to increase the import tax on all goods produced in Serbia and Bosnia to 100% from 10% set earlier that month in order to protect Kosovo’s sovereignty and interests.
The EU deeply regretted the Kosovo’s unilateral tariff increases on imports from Serbia and Bosnia, the SA Council said.
“Any impediments to trade should be resolved within the appropriate fora and mechanisms, with the constructive participation of all sides concerned, in a spirit of regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations,” the council noted.
At the meeting, the EU underlined the relevance of Kosovo's continuous engagement in the EU-facilitated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, accelerating and intensifying work in good faith on a legally binding agreement on comprehensive normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia, the statement added.
“All dialogue agreements agreed already need to be fully implemented without any further delay, in particular the 2015 agreement on the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities,” the SA Council noted.
The Stabilisation and Association Agreement is at the core of the relationship between the EU and Kosovo, providing them with the contractual framework for building closer ties.
Kosovo, considered to be a potential candidate for EU membership by the European Commission, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has so far has been recognised by more than half of the 193 UN member states. Belgrade does not recognise the independence of Kosovo.