The businessmen demand that Kurti do everything in order for the EU to lift the punitive measures; the damage is growing, and the deadline is unknown

At the Bled Forum yesterday, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti reiterated his expectation that the EU would soon lift the punitive measures against Pristina, and economic experts have been warning for days about the huge damage that Kosovo will suffer due to causing tensions in the north and refusing to listen to the demands of the EU and the USA.

The President of the Alliance of Kosovar Businesses, Agim Shahini, appeals to the Government in Pristina to take steps that will lead to the lifting of sanctions.

Shahini indicates for Kosovo Online that after the completion of two months since the EU introduced punitive measures to Kosovo, the negative impact is felt most by the Kosovo economy.

"The measures taken by the EU against Kosovo happened for the first time in history. We are used to being observers when the EU imposes sanctions on other countries. Now we are also suffering from them. The measures were introduced against the Government, as well as citizens, economy, and businessmen from Kosovo. It directly affects the reduction of economic activity and the budget," Shahini said.

If the EU measures continue until the end of the year, adds Shahini, the biggest loser will be Kosovo and its economy.

"We will lose more than 500 million euros in various directions, in the direction of administration, education of public society, army and police," Shahini pointed out.

Shahini sent a request to the Government of Kosovo to fulfill the EU conditions, so that the measures would be abolished.

"We, as the Business Alliance, demand that the Government in Pristina take a step as soon as possible that will lead to the lifting of sanctions, because we survive the hardest times, while the public sector receives a secure salary from the businessmen taxes," Shahini said.

According to him, the Kosovo economy will survive despite the punitive measures, but the number of foreign investments will decrease.

"Kosovo's economy will survive, regardless of punitive measures, but the question is how. We will certainly have less inflow and fewer investments. None of the old investors wants to come to a country that has punitive measures from the EU. Also, Kosovo no longer receives invitations to participate in meetings in European groups and commissions, and this is very important for the economy and increasing the economy's capacity," Shahini said.

When asked whether the steps taken by the authorities in Pristina were sufficient to withdraw punitive measures, Shahini stated that the EU knew best.

"According to our assessment, the Government of Kosovo must fulfill the conditions related to politics, economy, as well as the peace and stability of Kosovo and the entire region," Shahini concluded.

Political analyst, Mimoza Gavrani, tells Kosovo Online that the EU considers that the steps taken by the Government of Kosovo are not sufficient to withdraw punitive measures.

"Kosovo has already taken some steps that led to the de-escalation of the situation in the north, but the EU has not yet moved in the direction of lifting punitive measures against Kosovo. Despite calls from institutional leaders to lift the measures that were imposed in June, the EU remains silent, taking no action," Gavrani said.

According to her, the EU would not give up on punitive measures until the Kosovo Government fulfilled the conditions, which, she added, were clear.

"According to the EU, the Government's actions are not sufficient for de-escalation and for the possibility of implementing the agreements accepted by both sides, which according to the EU would be a stable solution, within which it would be possible to solve the current problems in that part of the country. I do not think that the EU will have the minimum will to give up or suspend the sanctions that are in force until Kosovo and the Government of Kosovo fulfill the conditions set by the EU, which are completely clear," Gavrani said.

The EU conditions refer to the complete withdrawal of Kosovo Special Forces from municipal facilities and their vicinity in the north of Kosovo, the withdrawal of mayors, and the holding of new elections in municipalities with a Serb majority in the north.

According to Gavrani, it is not yet known how new elections will be held and how the mayors will resign.

"The EU requested their resignation, while the Kosovo institutions announced that they would be dismissed by a citizens' petition," Gavrani added.

As she pointed out, the coming months would be very sensitive and politically difficult, because, she said, high-level meetings were being planned in order to push the dialogue process further.

Citing the agenda of the EU Envoy for Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, she pointed out that Lajcak would carefully consider the latest events and expectations for the next period at future meetings.