EC: Feasibility study for Kosovo Needed

06 November 2008

European Commission on Wednesday adopted the annual strategic document for expansion of European Union. Under the strategy, EC proposes implementation of a feasibility study for Kosovo, in order to evaluate how it can make the best use of regional and European integration processes.

Kosovo-based media report that EC proposed an intensification of political and technical dialogue between Kosovo and European Council.

In the progress report, European Commission has criticized Kosovo for presence of corruption and organized crime, and the lack of proper action to fight these phenomena. The report also mentions low economic development rates as well as Serb parallel structures, noting that the responsibility for both lies with lacking implementation of proper legislative measures and a lack of determination on the behalf of the weak judicial system.

Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Tha�i on Thursday has presented Kosovo Government views regarding the European Commission Progress Report, which he described as realistic, adding that recommendation will be used as guidelines to be applied by Kosovo institutions.

�Progress report has been reviewed with carefulness and has been accepted by Government as realistic evaluation of situation in Kosovo for the period of October 2007 � October 2008 and recommendation will be guidelines and applicable by Kosovo institutions�, said Tha�i.

EC evaluates that a progress has been achieved in addressing of key priorities of European Partnership but key challenges still remain to be addressed.

In a recent report, prepared by the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo (AmCham), corruption was also named a huge cause of concern. The AmCham report found that over 66% of surveyed businesses have responded that directly or indirectly have offered bribes to get a work done.

The report registers low levels of trust in the judicial system on the behalf of the business community, noting that business organizations claim over a half of all cases taken to court remain unresolved for years.

Hasan Preteni, the Director of Kosovo`s Anti-corruption Agency (KAA) admits corruption has been on the rise and has reached worrying levels, in spite of measures undertaken by authorities to fight it.