European Commission and Kosovo discuss Internal Market, Competition, Health and Consumer Protection issues

Brussels/Pristina, 7 April 2011 - A wide range of topics such as free movement of goods, public procurement, intellectual property rights, competition policy, company law, movement of capital/financial services, free movement of services and peoples, consumer protection and health were discussed during the two-day meeting between Kosovo authorities and the European Commission. The follow-up of the conclusions of this meeting will have an impact on Kosovo's progress on its European Integration path and will be reflected in the 2011 Progress Report. 

The meeting held between the Kosovo authorities and the European Commission in Brussels allowed to review the progress of Kosovo since the publication of the last Progress report and to identify steps that Kosovo should take to advance in the EU approximation process. The meeting was part of the regular dialogue under the Stabilisation and Association Process Dialogue. 

In the area of Public procurement, the European Commission voiced strong concerns with last year's adoption of the Law on Public Procurement. The EC urged the Kosovo authorities to amendments the law and bring it in compliance with EU standards, in order to ensure transparent procurement procedures, and the independence of procurement officials.

In the area of free movement of goods, legislative developments as well the administrative capacity in the area of standardization, metrology, accreditation, conformity assessment and market surveillance were discussed and assessed. The state of play and recent developments in the area of copyrights and industrial property rights were analysed and the existing and future technical assistance needs were addressed in the course of the discussion. Developments in the area of movement of capital and financial services were presented by representatives from the Central Bank of Kosovo. 

In the area of competition, both state aid and anti-trust policies were discussed and with a particular emphasis on the legislative and administrative capacity developments. Progress in the area of Health and Consumer Protection policy were also reviewed. 

The meeting was co-chaired by the Ministry for European Integration and the European Commission Directorate-General for Enlargement.
The SAP Dialogue was introduced by the European Commission in autumn 2009 as an upgrade of the previous Stabilisation and Association Process Tracking Mechanism. 

Besides offering advice on how to approximate legislation in the relevant areas, Kosovo is also receiving substantial assistance of EU money in the related sectors.