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Kosovo, the implementation of the decision to allow the entry of Serbian goods begins

2024-10-08 16:03:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kosovo, the implementation of the decision to allow the entry of Serbian goods

Authorities in Kosovo announced on Tuesday that the main border crossing at Merdare has been opened for the entry of goods from Serbia, a move that was welcomed by American and European diplomats.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs said manual security checks will be applied to originating goods until X-ray scanners are operational.

A day ago, the government of Kosovo decided to lift the ban on imports of goods from Serbia, amid concerns that the refusal could leave Kosovo out of important processes such as the Berlin Process.

The American ambassador in Pristina Jeff Hovenier wrote on social networks that he is satisfied with the decision of the Kosovo government to lift the ban on finished goods imported from Serbia and that according to him "this is an important step in the right direction for Kosovo in the path to European integration".

The European Union welcomed the decision stressing that free trade in goods across the Western Balkans, in accordance with the rules of the Eastern European Free Trade Agreement known as CEFTA, is key to the functioning of the Common Regional Market, which is part of of the Economic Growth Plan of the Western Balkans.

The decision was also welcomed by the Serbian authorities, according to which such an action removes the tension and affects the improvement of the life of Kosovo Serbs.

The government of Kosovo banned the import of goods from Serbia in June 2023, as a security measure after the situation created by the arrest of three members of the Kosovo police by Serbian forces, who were then released under Western pressure. The government said the measures were never commercial.

Western diplomacy, and recently Germany in particular, have continuously asked the government to lift the ban, stressing that it is against CEFTA, where Kosovo is a member along with five other countries of the Western Balkans and Moldova.

During the negotiations, in exchange, Kosovo was offered representation in CEFTA under its own name - footnote and not through the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), as it currently is, as well as support for the provision of scanners that will carry out the checks of barges entering from Serbia.

The CEFTA Joint Committee meeting is expected to be held on Wednesday in Belgrade./ Voa