DOCSLIB.ORG

Prishtina Insight #130

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Prishtina Insight #130 March 14-27, 2014 l #130 l Price 1€. Prishtina Sub-par pitch: Investor apathy: Prishtina isn’t Few want to put ready for FIFA their money into Insight football. PAGE 2 Kosovo. PAGE 4 KOSOVO SERBIAN SERBIA RAILwaYS ACTUAL TICKET SERBIA’S ROGUE RAIL Why no one seems to care about Belgrade’s unauthorized Kosovo train service. PAGE 7 Culture: A love l Opinion: Kosovars are wary of tribunal - with good reason. PAGE 11 affair with Kosovo’s l Region: Media target Dacic ahead carbohydrates. PAGE 16 of snap elections. PAGE 12 2 n March 14-27, 2014 n Prishtina Insight PageTwoPRISHTINA STADIUM “The stadium is in a Why Prishtina isn’t ready for FIFA play miserable condition. There are no Even though it ended in a draw, the March 5 friendly also likely will be held in Mitrovica. The reason is pretty toilets for spectators because the match with Haiti was a big win for Kosovo football. To simple: Prishtina’s stadium is well below national and club has transformed the premises many, though, it may have seemed odd that Kosovo’s international standards, said Eroll Salihu, secretary of into business areas and now in debut in FIFA-sanctioned play happened in Mitrovica Kosovo’s football federation. Complicating matters is all over the stadium there are - not Prishtina. The next friendly match versus the the the fact that the stadium is run by the city’s football restaurants that rent the spaces.” Turkish national team, Fatih Terim, expected in May, club, Prishtina. — Petrit Collaku — EROLL SALIHU from the editor Sending Moscow a message Even before Russia invaded expect increased interaction with Ukraine, it seemed almost laugh- Russian business and society …. We able that Kosovo would do any- also cannot ban companies from PEJA STADIUM thing to line the pockets of an offering cheap prices in public ten- oligarch linked to Vladimir Putin. ders based on their ethnicity.” But In the last Prishtina Insight we Selimi’s reasoning was flawed. ADEM JASHARI STADIUM (MITROVICA) – CaPACITY reported that Kosovo was poised The problem has nothing to do to do just that: KEK was preparing with ethnicity. The issue is whether to award a contract to repair Ko- Kosovo should do anything to ben- sovo A, the oldest power station in efit a country that has consistently ELSEWHERE the country, to a company owned worked to undermine its existence The head of sports by Alexei Mordashov, a billionaire and prosperity. 17,500 SEATS department within who reportedly has Putin’s ear. In the past Kosovo has success- What it has: What’s been done: What it still needs: Ministry of Youth, With the exception of help- fully blocked goods from Serbia Two locker rooms, 750,000 euro in Improvements to the Sports and Culture rennovated of toilets, rennovations from the grass and a new track. and Sports, Iber Alaj, ing build Deputy Prime Minister and Macedonia as a very power- facade, and a covered Ministry of Youth, Sports said 3.5 million euro in Behgjet Pacolli’s wealth through ful political weapon. Kosovo has seating area that’s free and Culture ahead of the European commision lucrative con- also extended visa restrictions on of leaks. Haiti match. funding is helping six tracts during countries that do not recognise Ko- stadiums in Ferizaj, Drenas, Gjilan, Peje, the 1990s, Rus- sovo’s independence. Mitrovica and sia has been Making it difficult for Rus- Gjakova, which need anything but sians to do business in Kosovo PRISHTINA STADIUM (PRISHTINA) - CaPACITY: reenovations. Alaj said a friend to Ko- would seem to be a very consist- Prishtina’s stadium is not included in the sovo. Nate ent policy - especially now that project because it is In 1999, Tabak the US and EU are preparing sanc- privately run. immediately Editor-in-Chief tions against Russia for its bad be- after the NATO havior in Crimea. Last week, The 16,200 SEATS bombing cam- Guardian speculated that the US What it needs: What’s been done: Prishtina gave 200,000 paign, Russian troops occupied could target Mordashov and oth- New seats, locker rooms, The Ministry of Youth, euro in 2013 to cover the Prishtina International Airport. It er Russian Oligarchs in forthcom- track, and fixing the Sports and Culture west side of the stadium sparked what could have been a ing sanctions. leaks above the stands. invested 150,000 euro in 2013. in the field in 2010. very disastrous confrontation with For the time being KEK still NATO troops. Since then, Russia has not signed a contract with the has been Serbia’s most powerful consortium that includes Mor- ally in keeping Kosovo from gain- dashov’s Power Machines, pend- ing true legitimacy on the interna- ing a dispute in the procurement Prishtina Balkan Investigative Reporting Network • tional stage. process. With this delay, Kosovo Insight Mensa e Studenteve, first floor, 10000, Prishtina, Kosovo Strangely, Deputy Foreign Min- has opportunity to figure out how it • PHONE: +381 (0) 38 24 33 58 • EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Nate ister Petrit Selimi welcomed news can stop the deal legally - and show Tabak •STAFF: Jeta Xharra, Marcus Tanner, Edona Peci, Petrit Collaku, of this impending Russian deal. He in a small way that Moscow’s bad Parim Olluri, Nektar Zogjani and Arijeta Lajka. • DESIGN: Trembelat • Prishtina noted at the time that on account behavior won’t go unchecked here Insight is supported by the Norwegian Embassy, Rockefeller Brothers Fund of better relations with Serbia, “we either. and the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. Prishtina Insight n March 14-27, 2014 n 3 • Copy / Print / Scan / Fax • Shpejtësia : 55 / 65 / 75 ppm • ARDF • Duplex • Finisher • High Capacity Tray • Garancioni 60000 print. 4 n March 14-27, 2014 n Prishtina Insight Source: Investment Promotion ECONOMY Agency of Kosovo Nation TOP €340 INVESTORS mil 2008-2013 €216 €196 €188 mil mil mil €115 mil €63 €20 €20 mil mil mil GERMANY TURKEY SWITZERLAND UK AUSTRIA USA NETHERLANDS ITALY Investors 40Cases of swine flu have been detected in Kosovo, according to the the University Clinical Centre, the country’s main hospital. So far one person has died keep clear and seven people are being treated. Officially known as H1N1, swine flu can be more serious than typical flu strains as it is more likely to infect the lungs. of Kosovo Concerns about corruption, red tape Three convicted in and weak rule of law mean few investors Kosovo 2.0 attack want to take a risk in the country. By Edona Peci court might revoke this conditional sentence and By Nektar Zogjani Some problems can have enor- An EULEX court has con- they would have to be sent mous consequences. In 2012, the victed three persons for to jail. With the nearest Ikea stores in UK-owned Kosovo-based marble storming a launch party of The case concerns Greece and Bulgaria, Danish fur- company Fox Marble saw its share the Kosovo 2.0 magazine, events on December 14, niture maker JYSK - just outside price drop by a third on the London damaging property and 2012, when a group of Prishtina, in Fushe Kosove - thrives Stock Exchange after its explora- attacking staff. around 30 people stormed as the go-to destination for Koso- tion licences were suddenly re- Albert Kastrati, Gani a magazine launch party. vars seeking smart Scandinavian voked. Latifi and Driton Dili were The indictment states goods at low prices. “One investor told me that, af- found guilty of violating that the three accused, But JYSK’s beginnings were far ter this news, no one would ever the equal status of resi- together with a group from easy. Fatmir Zymberi built the invest in Kosovo again,” Fox Mar- dents of Kosovo, prevent- of unknown persons, store in 2004 on what he believed ble’s CEO, Christopher Gilbert, said ing or hindering a public entered the Youth and was land given by the municipality. at the time. Ultimately, Fox Marble meeting and damage to Sport Centre in Prishtina, But, he was later told that it was pri- regained its licenses and its share movable property, EULEX forcefully prevented and vate property, and had to pay up. price recovered. But damage had said Monday. hindered the holding of a “After the whole building was been done. The three were each public meeting, destroyed completed, the owner [of the land] sentenced to six months goods and assaulted a demanded a very high sale price Investment flight: for violating the equal Kosovo 2.0 staff member. for JYSK,” Vigan Salihu, director of After peaking at 440 million status of residents, four The three were Kosovo and Macedonia operations euro in 2007 - the year before Ko- months for hindering a protesting against the for JYSK, recalled. “It took time to sovo declared independence - FDI public meeting, and four launch of the magazine's recover and slowed the company’s for 2013 as of September reached months for damaging latest edition, entitled success,” he added. only 205 million euro, according to property. "Sex", which focused on Stories like Zymberi’s are all too Kosovo’s Central Bank. However, they lesbian, gay, bisexual and common in Kosovo, where corrup- While the final FDI for 2013 has were given suspended transgender issues. tion, weak rule of law and cumber- yet to be released, it is on track for sentences for two years. But, the offense of some bureaucracy are part of the a similar level to 229 million euro, This means they will not inciting national, racial, cost of doing business. which was the figure for 2011. have to spent any time in religious or ethnic hatred These factors are also blamed - While the government blames jail, but are not allowed to discord or intolerance was in part - for the large drop in foreign the global downturn for the fall-off commit any law viola- withdrawn during the direct investment that Kosovo has in FDI, investors, foreign embas- tions in the upcoming two trial, as it was covered by experienced since it declared inde- sies and business associations say years.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Business Plan for 2020
    INFRAKOS – Business Plan 2020 Introduction The business plan of 2019 conceived by INFRAKOS, despite major challenges during all the year, has almost been fully realized. Therefore, thanks to our commitments, the action plan outlined from the business plan has been successfully implemented. Kosovo Railway Network managed by INFRAKOS, through which is transported certain number of passengers and goods safely and efficiently, thanks to our commitments was a successful story during the year 2019. In addition to providing services for railway operator TRAINKOS and RAILTRANS, we made strenuous efforts for providing real estate services and other services to our customers. Therefore, as a result of these commitments satisfaction of our customers has been and remains at relatively high levels. This success brings with it two important issues: challenges and opportunities. We must continue to enhance customer satisfaction by meeting the rising demand, but always keeping the right balance between capacity, performance and costs. For this we have a responsibility to continue our work with greater efficiency towards the modernization of the rail network and the financial sustainability of the company. Our challenges have been and remain large, while our options were, and unfortunately still remain small. We would like that our Business Plan would be fully realized because such as it is will enable the development of the railway network, understood as part of an existing reality in a modest way by not asking the impossible. For this reason we need to have greater support of responsible institutions in the realization of our projects, projects that are in the good of our country.
    [Show full text]
  • Rail Annexes to the Fifth Annual Market Monitoring Report
    IRG-Rail (17) 1a Independent Regulators’ Group – Rail Annexes to the fifth Annual Market Monitoring Report March 2017 Index Annex 1 – Definitions .............................................................................................................................. 3 Annex 2 – Main developments in 2015 ................................................................................................... 5 Annex 3 – Competition rules ................................................................................................................. 12 Annex 4 – List of regulatory decisions in 2015 ...................................................................................... 15 Annex 5 – Revenue of railway undertakings ......................................................................................... 23 IRG-Rail Market Monitoring Report - Annexes 2 Annex 1 – Definitions Undertakings providing services for the transport of goods and / or passengers and /or others on rail networks as defined in Directive 2012/34/EU. Exclude from Active railway perimeter undertakings having provided no service during the year.1 undertaking The nationality of railway undertakings refers to the country that delivered the railway undertaking license. Commercial service or All passenger services that do not fall within the scope of services provided under non-PSO service public service obligations (2015/1100/EC). Consecutive lines and nodes as a whole between a defined source and target Electrified route that allows railway vehicles to use electricity
    [Show full text]
  • Connectivity Agenda
    CONNECTIVITY AGENDA &RÀQDQFLQJRI ,QYHVWPHQW3URMHFWV LQWKH:HVWHUQ%DONDQV 2016 CONNECTIVITY AGENDA &RÀQDQFLQJRI ,QYHVWPHQW3URMHFWVLQWKH:HVWHUQ%DONDQVLQ Dear Reader, Well connected transport and energy networks drive economic growth and jobs. They help attract investments and provide opportunities for businesses and people including youth. In the Western Balkans, they contribute to good neighbourly relations. Our connectivity agenda therefore aims to improve links within the Western Balkans as well as between the region and the EU. The European Union has set aside up to €1 billion for connectivity investment projects DQGWHFKQLFDODVVLVWDQFHIRUWKHSHULRG:HSURYLGHGWKHÀUVW½PLOOLRQ at the Western Balkans Summit in Vienna in August 2015 for ten priority projects. Johannes Hahn We expect to break ground on some of these in the coming months. This year we follow-up with approximately €100 million for three connectivity projects, as well as an European Commissioner DGGLWLRQDO½PLOOLRQIRUWKH5HJLRQDO(QHUJ\(IÀFLHQF\3URJUDPPHDQGWKH*UHHQ for Neighbourhood IRU *URZWK )XQG 7KHVH LQLWLDWLYHV ZLOO KHOS ÀQDQFH HQHUJ\ HIÀFLHQF\ PHDVXUHV LQ 3ROLF\DQG(QODUJHPHQW Negotiations residential buildings as well as hydro-projects. Connectivity is not merely about expensive infrastructure projects. New highways only make sense if existing networks are properly maintained, and there is little point in investing in expensive energy inter-connectors without willingness to pursue energy trading within the region. Such reform measures are relatively inexpensive, DQGWKHUHIRUHGRQRWSXWSUHVVXUHRQWKHOLPLWHGÀVFDOVSDFHRIWKHUHJLRQ7KLVLV why it is so important that WB6 leaders have agreed to step up efforts to implement reform measures to open markets, create a transparent regulatory framework that EXLOGVLQYHVWRUFRQÀGHQFHDQGUHPRYHEDUULHUVVRXWLOLWLHVDUHPDQDJHGHIIHFWLYHO\DQG HIÀFLHQWO\ These reform measures now need to be implemented without delay, so that we may provide added value to the infrastructure investments presented in this brochure.
    [Show full text]
  • Annex to 3Rd IRG-Rail Market Monitoring Report
    IRG-Rail (15) 02a_rev1 Independent Regulators’ Group – Rail IRG–Rail Annexes to the 3rd IRG-Rail Annual Market Monitoring Report March 2015 IRG-Rail Annexes to the Annual Market Monitoring Report Index 1. Country sheets market structure.................................................................................2 2. Common list of definitions and indicators ...............................................................299 3. Graphs and tables not used in the report................................................................322 1 IRG-Rail Annexes to the Annual Market Monitoring Report 1. Country sheets market structure Regulatory Authority: Schienen-Control GmbH Country: Austria Date of legal liberalisation of : Freight railway market: 9 January 1998. Passenger railway market: 9 January 1998. Date of entry of first new entrant into market: Freight: 1 April 2001. Passenger: 14 December 2003. Ownership structure Freight RCA: 100% public Lokomotion: 30% DB Schenker, 70% various institutions with public ownership LTE: 100% public (was 50% private, new partner to be announced May 2015) Cargoserv, Ecco-Rail, RTS: 100% private TXL: 100% public (Trenitalia) Raaberbahn Cargo: 93.8% public SLB, STB, GKB, MBS, WLC: 100% public RPA: 53% private, 47% public (City of Hamburg: 68% HHLA, HHLA: 85% Metrans, Metrans: 80% RPA) Passenger ÖBB PV 100% public WLB, GKB, StLB, MBS, StH, SLB: 100% public CAT: 49.9% ÖBB PV, 50.1% Vienna Airport (public majority) WESTbahn: 74% private, 26% public (SNCF Voyageurs) Main developments Rail freight traffic once again receded slightly in 2013 on the previous year. The new entrants could raise their market share in traffic frequency (tons) from 23.2 to 24.9 percent, and their share in transport performance (net tons per kilometre) rose from 17.6 to 19.3 percent.
    [Show full text]
  • Sixth Annual Market Monitoring Working Document March 2018
    Sixth Annual Market Monitoring Working Document March 2018 Content List of country abbreviations and contributors ....................................................................................... 4 List of figures ........................................................................................................................................... 5 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7 2. Network characteristics of the railway market ............................................................................... 9 2.1. Network structure ................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.1. Evolution of rail route length .......................................................................................... 9 2.1.2. Network electrification .................................................................................................. 10 2.1.3. High-speed route length ................................................................................................ 11 2.1.4. Main infrastructure manager share .............................................................................. 11 2.2. Network usage intensity ........................................................................................................ 12 3. Track access charges paid by railway undertakings for the minimum access package ................ 15 4. Market players
    [Show full text]
  • Single Project Pipeline of Infrastructural Investments
    Republika e Kosovës Republika Kosova - Republic of Kosovo Qeveria - Vlada - Government Këshilli Kombëtar për Investime/Nacionalni Odbor za Investicije National Investment Committee SINGLE PROJECT PIPELINE OF INFRASTRUCTURAL INVESTMENTS 0 1 SINGLE PROJECT PIPELINE OF INFRASTRUCTURAL INVESTMENTS TRANSPORT, ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 TRANSPORT ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Description of Transport Sector ........................................................................................................................ 10 A transport WBIF success story ........................................................................................................................................................ 10 Railway sector ...........................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Progress Report on Implementation of Rail Action Plan (April Update)
    Progress Report on Implementation of Rail Action Plan for Developing a Regional Rail Strategy in the Western Balkans February 2020 (April update) 1 Table of content 1. Introduction 2. Progress Report 3. Implementation 3.1 Overall progress by measures 3.2 Progress made by the Regional Participants Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Kosovo* North Macedonia Montenegro Serbia 4. Monitoring mechanism for the implementation of actions 4.1 Proposal of the progress indicators 4.2 Schematics of the Monitoring Mechanism scoring process 4.3 Reporting 4.4 Definition and description of action progress indicators Annex 1 – Monitoring mechanism of the Rail action Plan o Rail market opening o Passenger rights o Governance o Interoperability o Improving rail border-crossing operations o Modernisation of rail network infrastructure *This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. 1 Annex 2. 1) RULES APPLICABLE TO TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE FORMING THE SOUTH EAST EUROPE CORE NETWORK (Annex I.1 of TCT) 2) RULES APPLICABLE TO RAIL TRANSPORT (Annex I.2 of TCT) 3) ENVIRONMENT RULES APPLICABLE TO TRANSPORT SECTOR (Annex I.6 of TCT) 4) PUBLIC PROCUREMENT RULES APPLICABLE TO TRANSPORT SECTOR (Annex I.7 of TCT) 2 1. Introduction The 1st set of actions for developing a regional rail strategy in the Western Balkans was adopted by Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community in Belgrade on 19.06.2019. It represents one part of the Action Plan, which should be developed and implemented in accordance with the general and specific objectives set out in the Joint declaration for a new Regional Rail Strategy in the Western Balkans, endorsed by Transport Ministers and representatives of the Western Balkans parties (meeting in Brussels at the occasion of the second Ministerial Council of the Transport, December 2018).
    [Show full text]
  • Spoormonitor Werkdocument
    Sixth Annual Market Monitoring Working Document March 2018 Content List of country abbreviations and contributors ....................................................................................... 4 List of figures ........................................................................................................................................... 5 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7 2. Network characteristics of the railway market ............................................................................... 9 2.1. Network structure ................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.1. Evolution of rail route length .......................................................................................... 9 2.1.2. Network electrification .................................................................................................. 10 2.1.3. High-speed route length ................................................................................................ 11 2.1.4. Main infrastructure manager share .............................................................................. 11 2.2. Network usage intensity ........................................................................................................ 12 3. Track access charges paid by railway undertakings for the minimum access package ................ 15 4. Market players
    [Show full text]
  • Podujevë/Podujevo Railway Line
    Comprehensive Network: Rehabilitation of Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje - Podujevë/Podujevo Railway Line Project Financing WBIF Grant WB14-KOS-TRA-01 € 1,250,000 WBIF Grant WB5-KOS-TRA-06 € 600,000 Other Sources Other Sources € 55,000,000 Total € 56,850,000 Total Grants € 1,850,000 Total Loans € 0 Project Description The core regional transport network of South East Europe was established by the REBIS project (Regional Balkans Infrastructure Study) financed by the EU and adopted in 2003 by the governments of the region. Eastern Railway Line is as a shorter connection of SEETO Railway Corridor X and Railway Route 10 which connects Kosovo with Serbia. One of the priority objectives stated in the National Multi-Modal Transport Strategy approved by Government of Kosovo in 2013 is to create links to the European transport network and - in line with this - to provide a priority railway network linking the transport gateways to the areas of potential economic growth. Railway Route 10 and East-West Railway Line (with future construction of new railway line Prizren (Kosovo) – Durres (Albania)) are defined by the Government of Kosovo as part of this priority railway network. Taking into consideration outcomes from Feasibility Study for General Rehabilitation of East-West Railway Lines in Kosovo which was financed by WBIF and completed in 2013, there is an economic justification for general rehabilitation and modernization of this line. Kosovo Government has supported this project as one of the most important projects after Rail Route 10, and we believe that WBIF and International Financial Institutions (EBRD and EIB) will support this project.
    [Show full text]
  • Annexes to Fourth Annual Market Monitoring Report
    IRG-Rail (16) 1a Independent Regulators’ Group – Rail Annexes to the fourth Annual Market Monitoring Report March 2016 Index 1. Annex 1 – Definitions ...................................................................................................................... 3 2. Annex 2 – Modal split ...................................................................................................................... 4 3. Annex 3 - Network and market structure ....................................................................................... 6 3.1. Markets liberalisation .............................................................................................................. 6 3.2. Ownership structure.............................................................................................................. 12 3.3. Route length .......................................................................................................................... 22 3.4. Passenger train kilometres .................................................................................................... 23 3.5. Market development ............................................................................................................. 24 4. Annex 4 – Infrastructure................................................................................................................ 29 5. Annex 5 - Passenger market .......................................................................................................... 29 6. Annex 6 - Freight market ..............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Kosovo Railway Infrastructure INFRAKOS J.S.C Kosovo Railway Infrastructure INFRAKOS J.S.C
    Kosovo Railway Infrastructure INFRAKOS J.S.C Kosovo Railway Infrastructure INFRAKOS J.S.C ❑ The first railway line in Kosovo was built in 1874, and connect Hani i Elezit - Mitrovica; ❑ Later construction of other lines continued, in 1963 construction of the entire Kosovo railway network was completed ❑ Kosovo Railways line in the entire territory of Kosovo is with a length of about 335 km. Kosovo Railway Infrastructure INFRAKOS J.S.C • Since the construction of the first railway line and to date, Kosovo Railways have had their journeys going through various challenges; • Kosovo Railways throughout the years have been the bearers of the country's economic development by successfully completing their mission in passenger and freight transport; Kosovo Railway Infrastructure INFRAKOS J.S.C ❑ In 1999, the railway network in Kosovo was in a very bad conditions, ❑ This is due to the damage that has been made to this network through overuse and without maintenance. ❑ However, with great commitment, the part of the infrastructure are in good and safe condition for the railway traffic, with the exception of line from Pristina to Podujevo and Klina - Xërxe - Prizren, are out of function due to damages. Kosovo Railway Infrastructure INFRAKOS J.S.C Thanks to external assistance and the Kosovo Budget in 1999, we have put some of the railway lines on use, starting with the line Leshak - Fushë Kosovë - Hani i Elezit and later the line Pristina - Peja and Klinë - Xërxe; Kosovo Railway Infrastructure INFRAKOS J.S.C ❑ Emergency rehabilitation and putting into use the main railway line R10, (Leshak - Hani i Elezit), line Pristina – Peja and Klina – Xërxe, also industrial line for mines in Magura).
    [Show full text]
  • Connectivity Agenda
    CONNECTIVITY AGENDA Co-financing of Investment Projects in the Western Balkans in 2015 CONNECTIVITY AGENDA Co-financing of Investment Projects in the Western Balkans in 2015 Dear Reader, One year ago, the leaders of the Western Balkans Six (WB6) – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo*, Montenegro and Serbia – met in Berlin to bring a new dynamism to regional cooperation. Since then, the European Commission has been working with them on concrete measures that benefit citizens throughout the region. Building and connecting transport and energy infrastructure is a driver for growth and jobs, and helps attract investments. It creates links and opportunities for businesses and people, as well as contributing to good neighbourly relations in the region. This is why we have put connectivity at Johannes Hahn the heart of our agenda, to improve links within the Western Balkans and with the EU. European Commissioner for Last April the WB6 agreed on core transport networks in line with EU recommendations. Neighbourhood Policy and Concerning energy, priority projects were identified based on the work of the energy community Enlargement Negotiations to facilitate integration of power systems and to improve and diversify gas supply. This is a major step forward, clearly focusing investment efforts on projects that respond to pressing needs and are also realistic. But improving transport and energy systems is not just about building roads, railways, power lines or gas pipelines. The WB6 needs to step up efforts to implement accompanying measures to open markets, create a transparent regulatory framework that builds investor confidence, and remove barriers so utilities are managed effectively and efficiently, and consumers get great value for money.
    [Show full text]