PROJECT NAME:

EU Support to the Kosovo Competition Authority and the State Aid Commission

SECTOR:

Private Sector

PROJECT VALUE:

3.798.000,00

DURATION:

61 months (start 15.01.2019)

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER:

Business & Strategies in Europe

DIRECT BENEFICIARY:

The Kosovo Competition Authority (KCA) and the Kosovo Competition Commission (KCC) • The State Aid Department (SAD) at the Ministry of Finance and the State Aid Commission (SAC) • State Aid providers identified at the central level (among the main ministries) and at local level (administration, municipalities).

PARTNERS:

Lithuanian Competition Council, Kosovo Legal Services Company (KLSC), Archidata

COVERAGE/IMPACT:

Competition and State Aid

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

To support the Government of Kosovo to further develop its institutional capacity to create the basis for sustainable economy standards in line with the EU acquis and the SAA requirements.

PROJECT PURPOSES:

To contribute towards ensuring a competitive environment in Kosovo and a higher level of discipline in state aids by increasing and strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative capacities in the fields of competition and state aid and ensuring the approximation of legislation in these fields with the EU legal framework.

ACTIVITIES:

COMPONENT 1 – COMPETITION The main objective of the component 1 is to strengthen the institutional and administrative capacities of the KCA so that KCA would facilitate the level of performance and increase a number of well-grounded competition law decisions. Furthermore, the functional capacity and operational independence of the KCC needs to be enhanced. Another objective is to achieve the substantial harmonisation and implementation of legislation and cooperation with line ministries for the common legislation. Sub-components: 1.1 - Strengthening of institutional and administrative capacities 1.2 - Legislative development 1.3 - Strengthening of inter-institutionally coordinated system 1.4 - Awareness raising COMPONENT 2 – State Aid: The main objective of the component 2 is to strengthen the institutional and administrative capacities of the State Aid Department (SAD) and State Aid Commission (SAC) in order to have a well-functioning State Aid system which can ensure a sustainable development based on a balanced economic growth and price stability. Sub-components: 2.1 - Legislative development 2.2 - Strengthening of institutional and administrative capacities 2.3 – Establish a comprehensive inventory of existing State Aid schemes and draft a program of adjustment 2.4 - Strengthening of inter-institutionally coordinated system 2.5 - Awareness raising

RESULTS:

To contribute towards ensuring a competitive environment in Kosovo and a higher level of discipline in state aids • To increase and strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative capacities in the fields of competition and state aid and to ensure the approximation of legislation in these fields with the EU legal framework.