Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade, Mrs. Rozeta Hajdari, together with other representatives of this ministry participated in the parliamentary commission, in which were approved in principle the Draft Law No. 08 / L-074 on Tourism, the Draft Law No. 08 / L-075 on Trademarks and the Draft Law No. 08 / L-076 on the Protection of Trade Secrets.
Initially, Minister Hajdari justified that the Draft Law No. 08/L-074 on Tourism aims to establish the legal basis for the development of competitive and sustainable tourism in the Republic of Kosovo, using natural, cultural, human and financial resources, in accordance with the legislation of EU and contemporary standards. The draft law applies to all public institutions and economic operators, such as travel agencies, tour guides, accommodation structures and other tourism service providers.
"The project experts, funded by the European Commission, have estimated that the existing tourism law should be amended to transpose the EU Services Directive. Civil society organizations, including research organizations and associations of economic operators, have also called for a change in the law. "Consultations have involved the responsible institutions, stakeholders and the general public, and the draft law has been carefully prepared for proceeding in the Government", stressed Minister Hajdari.
In this meeting were also clarified the Draft Law No. 08 / L-075 on Trademarks and the Draft Law No. 08 / L-076 on the Protection of Trade Secrets. Both of these draft laws are part of the 5 laws of the reform package of Chapter VII of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, which will harmonize local laws with the EU in the field of industrial property.
Minister Hajdari evinced that the Draft Law on Trademarks defines the conditions and manner of registration of trademarks, clarifying at the same time the objection procedure. Also, the draft law in particular creates the basis for the digitalization of services, as well as strengthens trademark protection through courts, taking into account local legislation on court proceedings. The strengthening of this draft law into law will inevitably contribute to the improvement of the business climate and to the promotion of investments and development in the Republic of Kosovo.
Draft Law No. 08/L-076 on the Protection of Trade Secrets applies to undisclosed business knowledge and information (trade secrets), which have a perspective effect within the territory of the Republic of Kosovo. So far there has been no proper legislation to protect trade secrets. The Draft Law on Trade Secrets, the first of its kind in Kosovo, concludes the reform in the field of industrial property, protecting the activity of our enterprises.
The three draft laws proposed by MIET were unanimously approved by the Commission on Economy, Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade and will be processed in one of the next plenary sessions.
