Today marks eight years since the entry into force of the Stabilization-Association Agreement (SAA) between the EU and the Republic of Kosova.

The agreement is the culmination of the efforts and commitment to the European agenda of more than a decade and a half of Kosova’s institutions, and at the same time it represents a new beginning that paves the way to speed up and strengthen the process of the country’s EU integration with the EU membership as the aim.

This was the first contractual agreement between the EU and Kosova, which was signed on October 27, 2015 which received the consent of the European Parliament and was ratified in the Assembly of Kosova. The agreement entered into force on April 1, 2016.

The SAA brings many benefits that affect the political, economic and legislative alignment levels, which as a result will improve institutions and the business environment, and will also affect the well-being of all citizens.

From an economic point of view, the SAA strengthens the economic and commercial relations between Kosova and the EU by gradually creating a free trade area.

Among other things, the SAA provides technical and financial support to Kosova’s economic reforms that will lead to the strengthening of a functional market economy, which will be able to face the competitive pressure of the EU market.

The Government of Kosova has envisaged all these actions through the National Program for the Implementation of the SAA, approved by the country’s Assembly. This program is the main national policy document for the EU accession and the primary goal of the program is to fulfill the obligations of the SAA within the deadlines set by this agreement.

/a.p./