Sarrazin: Kosovo could face exclusion from CEFTA and other sanctions if it continues the ban on the import of goods from Serbia

Germany's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, stated that if Kosovo continues its ban on the import of goods from Serbia, it could face exclusion from CEFTA, Balkan Insight reports.

"Kosovo could face calls for exclusion from the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and other sanctions if it continues to ban imports from Serbia," the German Envoy for the Balkans, Manuel Sarrazin, told BIRN.

The portal reminds that Germany is preparing for October 14, when it will host a summit marking the tenth anniversary of the EU-related platform for high-level cooperation between Western Balkan states.

German Envoy Sarrazin has visited Kosovo twice.

Earlier, the German Ambassador to Pristina, Jorn Rohde, stated that Sarrazin had called on Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti to lift the ban imposed in June 2023 on the import of Serbian-origin products. Sarrazin said the ban obstructs free trade in the region and hinders CEFTA.

In exchange for lifting the ban, Kosovo would no longer be officially represented within CEFTA by the UN mission, UNMIK, but would represent itself.

Kosovo's name would be listed with an asterisk, leading to a footnote stating that Kosovo’s status has yet to be finally resolved in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, reflecting Serbia's refusal to recognize it as an independent state.