PROJECT TITLE:

Further support to the development of trade in Kosovo

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

To further promote Kosovo’s integration into the world economy and strengthen the role of the State on economic governance through effective regulatory functions in line with SAA obligations.

PROJECT PURPOSE:

To support the Government of Kosovo to further develop its institutional capacity to create the basis for a sustainable environment for private sector development in line with the EU acquis and the SAA requirements.

LOCATION:

Kosovo

SECTOR:

Economic Development

BENEFICIARIES:

Ministry of Trade and Industry

DURATION:

12/March/2018 - 11/July/2020

VALUE:

998,750 EUR

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY:

GFA Consulting Group GmbH

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS:

Danish Patent and Trademark Office / European Institute for Public Policy / WTI Advisors LTD

RESULTS:

The capacity of the Government of Kosovo to develop, negotiate and implement trade policy, including protection and enforcement of intellectual property, in line with international trade requirements and EU practices is increased and its capacity to support Kosovo exporting/importing traders is improved.

ACTIVITIES:

Component 1: Trade Agreements Under Component 1, the priorities are Kosovo’s engagement in the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and Kosovo’s negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). In general, in the context of CEFTA, the project will aim at enhancing Kosovo’s negotiating capacities and at ensuring a successful Chairmanship for 2018. In the context of EFTA, the project will aim at developing MTI’s capacity for undertaking a feasibility assessment and of negotiating a free trade agreement in line with Kosovo’s commercial interests. The activities will combine ‘on-the-job’ training, producing relevant briefs and policy documents, and organising workshops to disseminate and transfer knowledge to the Beneficiary. C1.1: CEFTA negotiations C1.2: EFTA C1.3: CEFTA Chairmanship C1.4: Capacity-building for trade negotiations Component 2: Trade Policy Component 2 focuses on achieving a functional and predictable trading environment in alignment with the EU acquis and respecting Kosovo’s commitments under international laws and agreements. Most of the project activities under this component will concentrate on enhancing the institutional and administrative capacity of MTI to define and apply trade policy instruments. The project will combine formal training, informal ‘on-the-job’ coaching, and produce documents analysing Kosovo’s trade regime and regulations and advancing recommendations. C2.1: Legislative and policy development C2.2: Strengthening of institutional and administrative capacities C2.3: Strengthening of inter-institutionally coordinated system Component 3: Impact Assessment The main purpose of Component 3 is to enhance MTI’s capacity to undertake impact assessments of alternative policy options. In this sense, the project activities will focus on training MTI staff on the use of evidence-based methodologies and techniques to support the choice, design, and sequencing of alternative policy options. C3.1: Impact assessment of trade policy C3.2: Impact assessment of WTO commitments C3.3: WTO Memorandum of Foreign Trade Regime C3.4: Trade sectoral position papers Component 4: Industrial Property Rights Under Component 4, the project will focus on supporting the Industrial Property Agency (IP Agency) and other relevant stakeholders on issues related to industrial property right system in Kosovo. The project will support the development of the geographical indications system. Further activities will be aimed at improving capacity building of the IP Agency on the examination and registration of trademark and industrial design, developing cooperation between the IP Agency and the EU Intellectual Property Office, and at supporting the drafting of the Cross border Cooperation Agreement with Albania. C4.1: Industrial Property Agency – capacity building C4.2: Trademarks C4.3: Geographical Indications C4.4: EU IP Office Database C4.5: Cross-Border Cooperation Agreement with Albania

CURRENT STATUS:

Ongoing