Prishtina, 30 October, 2024
The first Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue of the Republic of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, today, before the deputies of the Assembly of Kosovo, presented the National Program for European Integration 2024 – 2028, which was approved by the Assembly.
On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi explained that this program consists of 3 blocks: political criteria, economic criteria and the alignment of legislation with the EU acquis. The program consists of 306 measures: 105 legislative measures and 201 implementing measures. Out of 105 legislative measures, 38 of them are draft laws, 3 are international agreements and the rest are by-laws, he said.
Furthermore, Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi added that the short-term measures that have been foreseen are related in full harmony with: Conclusions of the institutional structures of the SAA; Program for Economic Reforms 2024 – 2026; The National Development Plan, and the Legislative Program of the Government for 2024.
In the following, Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi listed several main reforms for each block, i.e. for political, economic criteria and European standards.
The complete speech of Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi:
Honorable Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Glauk Konjufca,
Dear Vice President,
Dear Members of Parliament,
After the approval by the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, on April 2, and three months after the approval in the Commission for European Integration, allow me to present to you the National Program for European Integration 2024 – 2028, for approval by the Assembly.
The program consists of three blocks: political criteria, economic criteria and the alignment of legislation with the acquis.
The program consists of 306 measures: 105 legislative measures, while 201 are implementing measures. Out of 105 legislative measures, 38 of them are draft laws, 3 are international agreements and the rest are by-laws.
The budget for the implementation of this Program is generally estimated to be 56,043,856 euros: of which 22,608,860 euros are from the public budget, meanwhile, 33,434,996 euros come from development partners and donors, therefore there is zero budget vacuum for the implementation of this program.
The short-term measures that have been foreseen are interrelated and are in full harmony with the conclusions of the institutional structures of the SAA; with the Program for Economic Reforms 2024 – 2026; with the National Development Plan, and the Legislative Program of the Government for 2024.
Since they are important for the work of the Assembly, the following draft laws are planned in the National Program for European Integration, including international agreements, and I am talking only about this year:
PL for supplementing and amending the laws that contain special administrative procedures and their harmonization with the Law on General Administrative Procedure, in the third phase;
PL for supplementing and amending the Law on the Organization and Functioning of the State Administration and Independent Agencies;
PL for product compliance inspection;
PL for public procurement (completion-change);
PL for public-private partnership as well (completion-change);
PL for accounting, financial reporting and auditing (completion-change);
PL for commercial companies;
PL for state aid (supplement-change);
PL for banks;
PL for electronic communications;
PL for agrotourism;
PL for agricultural land;
PL for veterinary medicine;
PL for fisheries and aqua-culture;
PL for vehicles;
PL for driver’s license;
PL for railways;
PL for road transport;
PL for the transport of dangerous goods;
PL for railway safety;
PL for energy;
PL for electricity;
PL for the Energy Regulator;
PL for energy efficiency;
PL for the right to trial within a reasonable time;
PL for the Administrative Court;
PL for supplementing and amending the law on disciplinary responsibilities of judges and prosecutors;
PL for supplementing and amending the law on foreigners;
PL for supplementing and amending the law on weapons;
PL for supplementing and amending the law on the protection of critical infrastructure;
Agreement on legal cooperation with France;
Agreement on legal cooperation with Sweden;
Agreement on legal cooperation with Italy;
PL for scientific research activity, innovation and transfer of knowledge and technology;
PL for environmental protection;
PL for the management of water resources;
PL for the protection of nature;
PL for inspection in the field of environment, water, nature, spatial planning, construction and housing;
PL for medical devices and products;
PL for tobacco control;
PL for the Auditor General and the National Audit Office of Kosovo (completion-change).
Below, briefly about some main reforms for each block:
In terms of political criteria, we have:
Legislation and framework policies for Public Administration Reform;
Reduction of the administrative burden;
Rationalization of agencies;
Advancement of local government policies and legislation;
Advancing reforms in the field of foreign policy with that of the EU (in chapter 31).
Economic criteria:
Implementation of the Strategy and PV for Public Finance Management Reforms 2022-2026;
Combating the informal economy.
European standards, or approximation of legislation:
Legislative reforms in the field of public and public-private procurement;
Legislative reforms in the field of inspections;
Legislative reforms in the banking sector;
Reforms in the field of free movement of capital and financial services and implementation in practice in this field;
Legislative and policy reforms in the field of competition and state aid, and implementation in practice in this field;
Legislative and policy reforms in the field of agriculture and agro-tourism and veterinary medicine;
Legislative and policy reforms in the field of transport and trans-European networks, ICT, as well as the implementation and building of institutional capacities;
Legislative and policy reforms in the field of energy and their implementation, in accordance with the de-carbonization agenda;
Legislative and policy reforms in the field of environment, water and waste;
Legislative and policy reforms in the field of public health and consumer protection;
Policy and institutional reforms in the field of company, enterprise and industry law with a focus on improving the provision of services to investors and other enterprises, as well as strengthening market competitiveness within the country and abroad;
Legislative and policy reforms in the field of justice, freedom and security, with a focus on the functioning of institutions, the justice system, legal professions, fundamental rights, media, gender equality, minority rights, and data protection personal;
Legislative and policy reforms in the field of internal affairs with a focus on border surveillance, asylum and migration, public order and police cooperation, cyber security and international legal cooperation in criminal and legal matters;
Legislative and policy reforms in the field of internal affairs with a focus on combating money laundering, financing terrorism and combating narcotics;
Improving policies and their implementation in the field of education, science and scientific research;
Advancement of policies and their implementation in the field of financial control.
Dear members of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, I invite you to approve this Program for European Integration in today’s session.
Thank you!
Last modified: October 31, 2024