Shahini: Government should consider opening all crossings to goods from Serbia; EU warnings are followed by sanctions

President of the Kosovo Business Alliance Agim Shahini, commenting on criticism contained in the European Commission’s 2026 Report, which states that Kosovo should ensure the free movement of Serbian goods through all crossings in accordance with its obligations under the dialogue, says it should be understood that when the European Commission issues warnings, sanctions follow if the required measures are not implemented.

“For almost two years, we were subject to European Union sanctions because of our stubbornness, because we did not listen to them. The Kosovo Government should now consider the fact that all border crossings should indeed be opened to goods arriving in Kosovo from the direction of Serbia, which includes goods coming from across Europe. There is so much congestion, particularly during the summer at Merdare, that trucks carrying goods wait in line for five or six days to enter Kosovo,” Shahini told Kosovo Online.

In his view, crossings toward Mitrovica and Gnjilane could also be opened for the commercial entry of goods. Shahini recalled that the Kosovo Business Alliance had repeatedly said that it was unacceptable for trucks to wait for days, generating additional costs that were ultimately reflected in the prices paid by consumers.

“The longer the trucks remain there, the higher the transportation costs become, and in the end we are the ones who have to pay for it,” he noted.

The Kosovo Government, he added, received a scanner from international partners that has been installed at Merdare and is now awaiting additional scanners for Mitrovica and the crossing toward Gnjilane.

“Their justification is that there are insufficient resources to inspect goods, but there are plenty of customs officers working there, and I believe these crossings should be opened,” Shahini said.

Speaking about the extent to which Serbian goods have returned to the Kosovo market following the import ban introduced in 2023, which was subsequently eased by opening only the Merdare crossing, Shahini said that Serbian producers should be more persistent and not allow politics to influence their business decisions.

“In 2023, Kosovo imported around €370 million worth of goods from Serbia on an annual basis, but imports subsequently fell to less than €200 million following that restriction. Now, during the first nine months of this year, we have imported almost €200 million worth of goods from Serbia. This means that Serbian goods have begun returning to Kosovo. I think Serbian producers should be more persistent in securing a share of the Kosovo market rather than focusing on politics or obstacles. Anyone who wants to sell goods in Kosovo has a market and has customers,” Shahini said.