PROJECT TITLE:

Support to Free Movement of Goods

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

The overall objective of this Project is to improve Kosovo’s business environment and its competitiveness in international markets by reducing barriers to trade, and subsequently enable a better trade access to the EU and international market.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this contract is to improve the Quality Infrastructure System of Kosovo, including market surveillance and consumer protection, in line with the EU requirements.

LOCATION:

Kosovo

SECTOR:

Economic Development / Public Administration Reform

TARGET AREA:

Quality Infrastructure System of Kosovo

BENEFICIARIES:

Departments of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Kosovo: Office of Trade Inspection (Market Inspectorate), Department of Consumer Protection and Department of Industry (Division of Quality Infrastructure). The Department of European Integration and Policy Coordination is in charge of coordinating/managing the project from the MTI/beneficiary side. Bodies of the National Quality Infrastructure of Kosovo: Kosovo Accreditation Directorate (DAK), Kosovo Standardization Agency (AKS), Kosovo Metrology Agency (AMK).

DURATION:

01/October/2014 - 30/Oct/2016

VALUE:

2,496,720.00 EUR

ACTIVITIES:

-Support the enhancement of Quality Infrastructure through technical assistance, training and awareness campaign on the importance of standards and accreditation. -Support market surveillance and consumer protection through training and instruction guidelines for market inspectors, consumer awareness campaigns.

EXPECTED RESULTS:

1. Conformity assessment procedures adopted in accordance with the requirements of the EU directives; 2. EU Standards adopted in market areas which lack standardization; 3. More accredited conformity assessment bodies operating in the domestic market; 4. Modern and functional laboratories of metrology in place handled by properly trained staff; 5. Increased awareness of the importance of standards, metrology and accreditation among Kosovo manufacturers and producers; 6. Consumer protection is better organized and trained; 7. Market surveillance is trained at all levels in accordance with the best practices of the EU member countries; 8. A functioning database for (dangerous) products is being circulated in the domestic market; 9. More internationally integrated national bodies for standards, metrology and accreditation.

PARTNERS

Norm Consulting (TR); Consumers International (UK); Northern Ireland Co-operation Overseas (NI-CO) (IE); EuroPartners Invest Group (EPIG) (AL).