Minister of Trade and Industry Endrit Shala said that the ministry he leads is one of the key ministries that takes care on improving the climate in doing business in Kosovo and is holding an active role in several important reform processes closely related to the process of state reform, reduction of administrative burden and simplification of permits and licenses in Kosovo.
"As far as services are concerned, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, in co-operation with the EU project, has completed the review of the local legislation, and analysed whether it is in compliance with EU Directive 2006/123/EC. The Services Directive aims to facilitate the establishment and provision of services in other member states and to provide cross-border services between EU member states. During the review of the legislation, 54 laws and sub-legal acts have been identified that need to be supplemented/amended, "Shala said during the reporting to the Special Group on Public Administration.
Shala proclaimed that the Ministry of Trade and Industry has drafted the Law on Services which partially transposes the EU Directive No. 2006/123/EC on Services in the Internal Market.
"The repeatable Transposition of the Services Directive enables Kosovo to progressively open the market and protect local businesses," he said.
According to Minister Shala, Law on Services Nr. 05/L-130 has been approved by the Assembly of Kosovo and entered into force in March 2017 and based on the Law on Services 05/L-130 two Administrative Instructions have been drafted: Administrative Instruction on Notification Procedure and Evaluation Compliance of Project Acts with the Law on Services. (approved by the Government of Kosovo on 23 March 2018) and the Administrative Instruction on the manner of operation of the Point of Single Contact.
"With this Administrative Instruction, which is in the public consultation procedure, the manner of functioning of the Point of Single Contact for Services is regulated, which aims to facilitate access to service providers and beneficiaries. Kosovo has also negotiated Additional Protocol 6 (AP6) within CEFTA, where Kosovo is committed in establishing an institutional framework, namely a Point of Single Contact (PSC). Regarding the establishment of the Point of Single Contact, within the Services Directive and within CEFTA, it is supposed to have a single portal and we are in the initial steps where the Action Plan for the establishment of PSC was drafted. This process will take place in coordination with relevant institutions including MED, MPA (AIS), MTI (KBRA), KTA, "said Shala.
The Minister said that the Ministry of Trade and Industry has placed in a special focus other activities related to the process of reducing the administrative burden.
"I can confirm that MTI is one of the first institutions in Kosovo, which is implementing the simplification process of permits and licenses issued by relevant MTI agencies and departments. We are doing this activity in close cooperation with the "Investment Climate II" project implemented by IFC / World Bank and MTI has identified the necessary reforms," said Shala.
