Prishtina 31/10/2016 – Minister of Economic Development, Blerand Stavileci, reported before the European Integration Commission of the Kosovo Assembly, delivering a presentation on the achievements relating to the National Program on the Implementation of the SAA in terms of economic development and IPA funds.

Stavileci said “knowing that the implementation of the SAA implies legal obligations for Kosovo, in order to reach a successful implementation of this agreement and all reforms required by it, a National Program for the Implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (NPI) has been drafted.” A review of NPI for 2017 has been started. He said that the MED has reported quarterly on the midterm Chapters regarding the National Program for the Implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement.

The Head of MED stopped at each point of Chapter 1 of the acquis: Free movement of goods / legislative measures; Chapter 3 of the Acquis: Right of establishment and freedom of providing services within the implementing measures; Chapter 3 of the Acquis: Right of establishment and freedom of providing services within the implementing measures; Chapter 10 of the Acquis: Information society and media / legislative measures; Chapter 10 of the Acquis: Information society and media / implementing measures; Chapter 15 of the Acquis: Energy / legislative measures; Chapter 15 of the Acquis: Energy / implementing measures and IPA II funds.

The Minister indicated that they are in the process of meeting all legislative measures for areas covered by MED in line with the deadlines set, referring to strategic documents, legislation and bylaws on ICT, Energy and provision of services. Speaking on the implementing measures in the energy sector, related to chapter 15, Stavileci said an Energy Strategy draft 2016 to 2025 has been prepared and that the draft is now entering the process of finalization based on the inputs from public discussion. The implementation of the Energy Strategy Program 2016-2018 will be developed following adoption by the Assembly of the Republic of the Kosovo Energy Strategy 2016-2025.

As far as building and development of new electricity generation capacities, the Minister stressed that commercial closing is upon finalizing, and expression of interest is anticipated at the end of this year.

However, in terms of financial closing, it is expected to occur during 2017. He stressed as well the activities for the decommissioning of TC Kosovo A. As far as the IPA funds are concerned, after project development by MED, the European Commission supported Kosovo since 2014 with: Technical assistance for the decommissioning process of TC Kosovo A and the Feasibility Study for Kosovo B; Support for the implementation of the third package of energy with a special emphasis on EE and RES in the amount of 2.5 million Euro; Project for the rehabilitation of heating in Gjakova and Prishtina and a project for the construction of a hazardous waste landfill in the amount of 12 million Euro. IPA 2017 is currently in the stage of identifying priorities and proposals.