Kaçaniku: Kosovo Faces Middle-Class Bankruptcy Due to High Prices

The president of the Consumer Association, Selatin Kaçaniku, warns that due to high prices, Kosovo is on the verge of middle-class bankruptcy, emphasizing that these price hikes are linked to imported goods.

Speaking on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day, Kaçaniku pointed out that prices in Kosovo are ten times lower than in European countries, which, according to him, reflects the struggles citizens face.

"If we take into account that prices in Kosovo and much of the Balkans are ten times lower than in European countries, this fact alone highlights our difficulties. The lower class has already gone bankrupt, and now the middle class is at risk. I hope the government knows what needs to be done, but what we must do is make our voices heard. If we fail to do so, we will face even tougher days," Kaçaniku warned.

Regarding recent supermarket boycotts, Kaçaniku stated that Kosovo’s prices are influenced by imported goods and that consumers have become more aware, making it harder for businesses to sell substandard products.

"I believe a large part of the pricing issue is related to imported goods. Every producing country subsidizes its products, meaning these goods should be cheaper in Kosovo than in Germany. Another factor is that the region from Greece to Slovakia is known as a major money-laundering hub. I won’t mention large investments… but the key point is that those involved in money laundering invest in all these countries where boycotts are taking place—Greece, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania. There have even been boycotts in the U.S.

Consumers can no longer be treated like ‘monkeys,’ as the old saying goes—‘the monkeys have opened their eyes.’ We, as consumers, have opened our eyes. No one can deceive us anymore or sell us something that isn’t worth buying," Kaçaniku concluded.