Prishtina, 19 June, 2024
The first Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Development and Dialogue of the Republic of Kosovo, Besnik Bislimi, continued reporting to the Commission for European Integration, after the meeting held on Thursday of last week. On the agenda was the review of the draft of the National Program for European Integration (NEP) for the period 2024-2028, the content of which was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister in his introductory speech.
The program contains 3 blocks: political criteria, economic criteria and the alignment of legislation with the EU acquis and carries a total of 306 measures, of which 105 legislative measures, 38 draft laws and 3 international agreements; 64 by-laws and 201 implementing measures. The budget for the implementation of the Program is a total of 56,043,856 euros, of which 22,608,860 euros will be allocated from the state budget and 33,434,996 euros from development partners/donors.
The draft of the National Program for European Integration (PKIE) 2024-2028 was approved by the Commission for European Integration and the same will be further passed for approval in the Assembly.
Complete opening speech of Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi:
Honorable Chairperson of the Commission for European Integration, Mrs. Krasniqi,
Dear members of the Commission,
Dear other participants,
In the following, allow me to present to you the National Program for European Integration 2024-2028, approved by the Government on April 2.
Program Content:
• 3 blocks: political criteria, economic criteria and alignment of legislation with the acquis;
Program Content:
• 306 measures:
• 105 legislative measures:
• 38 draft laws and 3 international agreements;
• 64 bylaws;
• 201 enforcement measures.
The budget for the implementation of the Program:
• Total 56,043,856 euros:
• From the state budget – 22,608,860 euros;
• From development partners/donors – 33,434,996 euros;
• Until this document there is no budget vacuum.
Short-term measures are related and in harmony with:
• Conclusions of the institutional structures of the SAA;
• Program for Economic Reforms 2024 – 2026;
• National Development Plan, and
• The Legislative Program of the Government for 2024.
As they are important for the work of the Assembly, the following draft laws (including international agreements) are planned in the PKIE for this year:
• DL for supplementing and amending the laws that contain special administrative procedures and their harmonization with the Law on General Administrative Procedure, third phase;
• DL for supplementing and amending the Law on the Organization and Functioning of the State Administration and Independent Agencies;
• DL for product compliance inspection;
• DL for public procurement (completion-change);
• DL for public-private partnership (completion-change);
• DL for accounting, financial reporting and auditing (completion-change);
• DL for commercial companies;
• DL for state aid (supplement-change);
• DL for banks;
• DL for electronic communications;
• DL for agro tourism;
• DL for agricultural land;
• DL for veterinary medicine;
• DL for fisheries and aqua-culture;
• DL for vehicles;
• DL for driver’s license;
• DL for railways;
• DL for road transport;
• DL for the transport of dangerous goods;
• DL for railway safety;
• DL for energy;
• DL for electricity;
• DL for the Energy Regulator;
• DL for energy efficiency;
• DL for the right to trial within a reasonable time;
• DL for the Administrative Court;
• DL for supplementing and amending the law on disciplinary responsibilities of judges and prosecutors;
• DL for supplementing and amending the law on foreigners;
• DL for supplementing and amending the law on weapons;
• DL 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;
• DL for scientific research activity, innovation and transfer of knowledge and technology;
• DL for environmental protection;
• DL for the management of water resources;
• DL for the protection of nature;
• DL for inspection in the field of environment, water, nature, spatial planning, construction and housing;
• DL for medical devices and products;
• DL for tobacco control;
• DL for the Auditor General and the National Audit Office of Kosovo (completion-change).
Now let me introduce some of the other key reforms that are envisaged for the three blocks mentioned:
Regarding the political criteria, it is about:
• Legislation and framework policies for Public Administration Reform;
• Reduction of the administrative burden;
• Rationalization of agencies;
• Advancement of policies and legislation in local government;
• Advancing reforms in the field of foreign policy with that of the EU (in chapter 31).
To the economic criteria:
• Implementation of the Strategy and PV for Public Finance Management Reforms 2022-2026;
• Combating the informal economy.
Whereas in European standards, the list is longer:
• 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 as well as their implementation in practice;
• Legislative and policy reforms in the field of competition and state aid, as well as implementation in practice;
• Legislative and policy reforms in the field of agriculture and agro-tourism and veterinary medicine;
• Legislative and policy reforms in the field of trans-European transport and networks, ICT, as well as the implementation and building of institutional capacities in this field;
• 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 both within the country and beyond;
• 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 as well as international legal cooperation in criminal and legal matters;
• Legislative and policy reform 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 and others.
So, this was a glimpse of the content of the National Program for European Integration for the period 2024-2028.
Dear Members of Parliament,
I asked you to approve this Program and proceed for approval in the plenary session of the Assembly.
Thank you very much for your attention!
Last modified: June 20, 2024