Prishtina, 01.04.2019 – The Minister of Economic Development, Mr. Valdrin Lluka, is attending the high-level ministerial meeting on the “Central and South Eastern Europe Energy Connectivity” which is taking place in Bucharest, Romania.

During his speech, Minister Lluka spoke before the Climate Actions and Energy Commissioner, Miguel Arias Cañete, Romania’s Minister of Energy, Anton Anton, Director General of the DG Energy in the European Commission, Dominique Ristori, and all those present, pointing out the problems posed to Kosovo by Serbia, which are preventing Kosovo’s connection to Europe and the region.
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“I would like to raise an issue that is not only relevant in terms of implementing the project for market connection to Albania, Italy, Montenegro and Albania (AIMS), but is also a preliminary condition for regulating the regional market. As you are aware, the Energy Community Ministerial Council, in its last meeting, has found “continuous severe violations” by Serbia with regard to congestion management applied against Kosovo’s interconnectivity. This conclusion, unless is remedied, will become effective in June this year”, stated Minister Lluka.

Furthermore, he urged that the problem with Serbia, which is damaging Kosovo consumers with high prices, be solved as soon as possible.

 “Kosovo consumers are bearing the burden of expensive import tariffs due to the barriers and exclusive rights of Serbian market participants who might operate in Kosovo’s market”, stated Minister Lluka.

Also, he explained that Kosovo has taken concrete steps of merging the markets, and requested that Kosovo becomes an equal partner in the AIMS market.

“With regard to the market merging, Kosovo is working with Albania in the Western Balkans 6 (WB6) project. The project has advanced forward and we expect to soon establish the energy exchange with Albania, who will be managing these two merged markets. From our point of view, this project should be considered as the first step in joining the AIMS markets, which should in any case include Kosovo’s market as well”, stated Minister Lluka.

Finally, Minister Lluka stated that Kosovo’s inclusion in this project would facilitate transition into a single European market.