Ahead of the intergovernmental meeting between Albania and Kosovo due to take place in Elbasan on Friday, less than half of previous trade agreements have been implemented, according to data from the Kosovo Foundation for Open Society.
Kosovo and Albania have signed 86 agreements between them since 2014. However, just 49% have been entirely implemented, 36% have been partially implemented, 9% have not even started, and for 6%, there is no information at all.
Furthermore, the amount of imports from Kosovo remains low at just 1%, while Albania exports only 9% of its products across the border. To date, only 14 products make up the majority of exports to Kosovo.
The main products exported from Kosovo to Albania are recyclable waste such as cast iron, steel and aluminum, malt beer, pipes for oil and gas, water, and wheat flour. As for those exported from Albania to Kosovo, rods and bars made of iron, steel, and aluminum account for half, followed by diesel oils, cement, diesel cox, and tomatoes.
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti will meet with his Albanian counterpart Edi Rama to sign a number of intergovernmental agreements. Following the meeting, a press conference will be given.
Agreements on the table include the abolition of the residence permit, the opening of the joint border crossing at Shishtavec, legal assistance, mutual customs procedures, cultural heritage, feasibility study for the rehabilitation of the Durres-Prishtina railway, and procedures for customs at the Durrës port.
