The Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade (MIET) is concerned about the publication of inaccurate news about the assumed blocking of strategic investments, while working precisely to enforce the law and promote the country’s development.
The Law on Strategic Investments in the Republic of Kosovo, adopted in 2017, defines the criteria that an investment project must meet to gain the status of strategic investment. Criteria include financial ability to accomplish the investment, compliance with environmental standards under domestic and European legislation, as well as compliance with the constitution and obligations under the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union.
As chair of the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Strategic Investments, Minister Rozeta Hajdari carries out the main task of ensuring that the approved projects comply with the above criteria. In order to implement the law, and after detailed consultations with the government legal service, Minister Hajdari has informed the Inter-Ministerial Commission about some projects for which there are reasonable doubts that they do not meet the legal criteria.
None of the projects discussed have started to be implemented.
Minister Hajdari did not prejudge the epilogue of the projects, although so far there have been reactions from mayors of various municipalities, who as members of the Inter-Ministerial Commission have opposed or supported specific projects that are proposed to be implemented in their municipalities.
Publishing inaccurate news and excerpts from internal discussions between members of the Inter-Ministerial Commission now does not help law enforcement and proper handling of investment projects. Documents and data on the work of the Commission are even confidential.
MIET recalls that, according to the law, the Government must take decisions according to legal principles and criteria and justify its decisions regarding strategic investments. Institutions in particular must respect "the principles [of] free competition and equal treatment, the principle of non-discrimination, transparency, proportionality and mutual respect".
MINT, the Inter-Ministerial Commission, as well as the Government itself will act in full compliance with these principles and the legislation in force on strategic investment issues.