In a recent diplomatic visit, Manuel Sarrazin, the German envoy for the Western Balkans, openly criticized the Kosovo government for its failure to reach an agreement on the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and for impeding trade cooperation in the region. The criticism followed Kosovo’s rejection of a proposed compromise concerning the representation of Kosovo within the trade bloc and the continued ban on Serbian imports.
Jern Rohde, the German ambassador in Pristina, commented on the visit, stating that Sarrazin’s goal was to present a compromise: allowing Kosovo to replace UNMIK in CEFTA while securing essential freedoms for its citizens. However, his efforts were unsuccessful.
„Manuel Sarrazin once again visited Kosovo to urge Albin Kurti to compromise on CEFTA, enabling key freedoms for Kosovo’s citizens, replacing UNMIK by Kosovo on the board – unsuccessfully,” Rohde remarked.
He emphasized the necessity of regional cooperation, saying, „If needed, the other Western Balkan countries will move forward without Kosovo to go ahead with regional cooperation and the Berlin Process.“
🇩🇪@ManuelSarrazin visited 🇽🇰 again to urge @albinkurti to compromise on CEFTA, enabling key freedoms for 🇽🇰 citizens, replacing UNMIK by 🇽🇰 on the board – unsuccessfully.
If needed, the other WEB countries will move on w/o 🇽🇰 for now, to go ahead w/ regional coop + Berlin Process pic.twitter.com/JetbpfRchb— Ambassador Jörn Rohde (@GermanAmbKOS) September 5, 2024
Trade Blockade Concerns
During a televised appearance on KTV following his meeting with Prime Minister Kurti, Sarrazin reiterated his demand for Kosovo to lift its more than year-long ban on Serbian imports.
„We now have a key principle in the European Union, and while one can block progress, I must explain to the Kosovo government that we will move forward with agreements on these matters concerning a free common market, even without Kosovo if necessary. This is my message today,“ Sarrazin stated.
Despite these calls, Sarrazin’s requests were met with negative responses from the Kosovo government. His calls to unblock Serbian goods from entering Kosovo remained unaddressed, heightening regional tensions.
Kosovo’s Response: “Serbia’s Condition”
The Prime Minister’s office quickly responded to Sarrazin’s comments. Jeton Zulfaj, an advisor to Prime Minister Kurti, claimed that the request to lift the ban on the import was actually Serbia’s condition.
„After three years of Serbia’s blockade within CEFTA, we have a compromise solution. Serbia has now conditioned this solution with the removal of Kosovo’s security measures at border crossing points with Serbia,“ Zulfaj said. He emphasized that these two issues were unrelated, adding that the measures imposed by Kosovo were in response to security threats, not trade disputes.
„These measures were not implemented by our Trade Minister but by our security authorities,“ Zulfaj explained.
Today, PM Kurti met with German SE Manuel Sarrazin to discuss the possibilities of unblocking decision-making in CEFTA.
After three years of Serbia’s blockade within CEFTA, we have a compromise solution. Serbia has now conditioned this solution with the removal of Kosova’s…— Jeton Zulfaj (@JetonZulfaj) September 5, 2024
The import ban, in place since mid-June last year, was imposed following the arrest of three Kosovo police officers by Serbian authorities near Raška—a claim disputed by the Kosovo side, which maintains the incident occurred in Leposavić. Although the officers were quickly released, the import ban has remained in effect for over a year without any formal documentation or official explanation.
The European Commission and multiple international bodies have criticized Kosovo’s ongoing embargo, citing it as a breach of the CEFTA agreement, which was initially signed in Bucharest in 2006. The embargo has further strained Kosovo’s relations with its neighbors, particularly Serbia, and risks isolating the country from regional trade discussions.
Kosovo’s primary grievance with CEFTA stems from its representation by UNMIK, which has been the case since the agreement’s inception. Despite repeated demands for a change, CEFTA has refused to recognize Kosovo as an equal signatory.
The 2006 CEFTA agreement was signed by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Montenegro, Serbia, and UNMIK on behalf of Kosovo. Although the agreement came into force the following year, Kosovo has been fighting for years to secure its place at the table.
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