Prishtina, November 13, 2024
Honorable Deputy Prime Ministers,
Honorable Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Honorable employees of the Prime Minister’s office, media personnel, and beloved citizens,
In February 2022, we approved in the Government the concept document for the Sovereign Fund, which examines the most successful models in the world and proposes the specific path that the Sovereign Fund of the Republic of Kosovo should follow. A year and a half has passed since we approved the draft law in the Government that opens the path for the establishment of the Fund. In December 2023, we approved the Law on the Sovereign Fund of the Republic of Kosovo in the Assembly of the Republic. By next month, a year will have passed since the law has been in the drawers of the Constitutional Court. Every passing day is lost and extremely valuable time, as our state is being hindered during a period of great changes and opportunities in the global economy, while we record the highest economic growth accompanied by the highest democratic progress.
Sovereign Funds are vital for economic growth, increasing investments, and enriching the investment structure. We hope that the opposition’s warnings, that the Constitutional Court will overturn our law on the Sovereign Fund of Kosovo, based on their internal information, do not prove to be accurate. We hope that this pattern of blocking positive and progressive reforms will be interrupted, as happened with the Law on the Bureau for Confiscation of Unjustified Assets, the Law on the Prosecutorial Council of Kosovo, the Law on the Price Ceiling for Basic Products, among others.
As an example of the substantial and crucial work achievable within a year, with the institutions we’ve founded, we can refer to the Institute for Crimes Committed during the War in Kosovo. The establishment of this institute was driven by the necessity to safeguard and record the truth about the hardships and sacrifices endured by the people of Kosovo. The Institute submitted its annual work report this week. Arranging the accumulated materials as upright folders would result in a series 189 meters long, or alternatively, 15.8 terabytes. Thanks to the dedication of all who have contributed: citizens, organizations, institutions, municipalities, ministries, journalists, human rights activists, and various collectors, all this has been achieved. I express my gratitude to each and every one of you for the stories you have shared and the memories you have kept. I encourage everyone to keep supporting the Institute in fulfilling this just and noble mission of theirs. We understand that this process is challenging, yet it is crucial to preserve the truth, to record the truth, and to facilitate and aid justice. This partnership is evidence of our mutual dedication to safeguarding our collective memory.
Thus, in instances such as this, we especially recall all those who sacrificed for the freedom and independence of our nation. It is our moral and institutional duty to ensure that their suffering is never forgotten. It is an honor and justice for those who have sacrificed for the freedom of Kosovo and for the families who still bear the pain of the murdered and forcibly disappeared during the war.
As for today’s meeting, the 230th consecutive one of our government, it will initiate a new stage for the film industry in Kosovo, since the new Regulation on Rights in Rebate is on the agenda. This rule will position our country as the leading destination for film production in the area. With this, foreign film companies will have the chance to film their projects in Kosovo’s territory, and they will be reimbursed 30% of the eligible costs spent on local businesses, services, and human resources. The same tool is used for companies that produce video games. Hajrulla Çeku, our Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, will discuss this in more detail at the regular conference that follows this session.
Included in today’s agenda is the Health Sector Strategy 2025-2030. Through the reform we are carrying out in the health sector, we guarantee complete access for every citizen to quality and secure healthcare services, free from financial obstacles. Regarding this, our Health Minister, Arben Vitia, will also attend the press conference following the end of this meeting. Throughout the day, I will be pleased to attend the opening ceremony of the new Emergency center in the Municipality of Podujeva, a product of collaborative effort and co-financing between the municipality and the Qatar Foundation, whom I met with before arriving at this meeting.
Our fight against organized crime, esteemed colleagues, and against corruption is being strengthened with a modern law that adheres to European Union standards against money laundering. Thus, on today’s agenda, we also have the approval of the Draft Law against Money Laundering. Our republic thus fulfills the final condition for applying for membership in the Single Euro Payments Area or SEPA. Kosovo’s membership in SEPA brings numerous benefits to our economy, including the facilitation of international and interbank transfers and the reduction of transaction costs for both citizens and businesses. According to a study by the “German Economic Team”, joining SEPA saves our citizens approximately 55 million euros annually, which were previously expenses for interbank and international money transfers.
Thank you.
Last modified: November 15, 2024