Kosovo takes over CEFTA chairmanship

Kosovo has officially taken over CEFTA’s chairmanship in Brussels.

CEFTA is a free trade agreement between non-EU countries that is aimed at boosting socio-economic development through an increase in trade and investment promotion. At present, its members include Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova.

Speaking at a meeting in Brussels, Kosovo’s ambassador to the EU Bernard Nikaj said improving regional cooperation and increasing trade will be CEFTA’s priorities under Kosovo’s leadership, all of which will be done with an eye on bringing Pristina closer to the EU.

“In last few years the region has made serious advances in terms of creating a free trade area that all countries of the Western Balkans agreed with…we hope that CEFTA will help to foster further growth in the trade of goods and services among its members. Chairing CEFTA is a huge responsibility in terms of our contribution to bringing the whole region closer to the EU,” said Nikaj.

The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Bajram Hasani who will be CEFTA’s rotating chairman, said that the implementation of the agreements reached so far is very important.

“As minister of the government of Kosovo and CEFTA’s chairman, we will offer our maximum commitment to carry out our obligations, to deliver our objectives and most importantly, we will focus on the implementation of the agreements reached so far and those that will be reached in the future”, minister Hasani said.

He said that during the period that Kosovo will chair CEFTA, it will be very cooperative and will not neglect any of the signatories of this agreement.

At present, the implementation of the free trade agreement in the region faces a number of challenges that include serious restrictions imposed by Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the freedom movement, non-recognition of educational diplomas and certificates, as well as a lack of mechanisms that could push members to fulfil the terms of CEFTA regarding trade facilitation.

SCAN

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