Meeting of Šarović - Ljajić: Address EU with joint letter on discriminatory taxes by Priština

Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH Mirko Šarović met today in Belgrade with Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajić, with whom he discussed the situation resulting from Priština's imposition of discriminatory taxes on goods from Serbia and BiH.

On this occasion, the Ministers noted that due to the imposed tax of 100 percent, the trade of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina with Priština is practically disabled, and expressed their concerns over the inefficiency and gloomy reactions of the international community, which so far has not persuaded Priština to withdraw the mentioned barriers.

In that regard, the two Ministers agreed to send a joint letter to the EU Member States, since the Stabilization and Association Council of the European Union and Kosovo will be held on 17 December, which will consider the application of the SAA by temporary institutions in Priština.

It was estimated that this is the last chance for the EU to ask Priština to urgently and without any delay abolish the disputed measures, or otherwise it will be necessary to request a suspension of the SAA between the EU and Kosovo. Namely, increased tariff rates do not only violate the CEFTA Agreement and SAA, but it represents a gross violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms, and above all the right to free movement of people, goods and capital, as well as the right to health and health care.

The ministers agreed to coordinate in the future all steps and activities towards international institutions in order to eliminate the discriminatory measures of Priština as soon as possible.