Civil Society Consortium for Sustainable Development (Kosid) demanded from the parliament of Kosovo* to envisage all the points of the petition against the increase of the price of power supply, Independent Balkans News Agency’s portal reported.
Through this petition, last September the organizers and 33 thousand signatories demanded from the parliament to abrogate the decision of the energy watchdog for the increase of price by 5,18%. The petition also demanded the amendment of the value-added tax, where the 16% rate on electricity would be removed.
On May 8, minister of finance Avdullah Hoti declared in parliament that this institution would soon receive the bill which would reduce VAT on electricity to 8%.
Kushtrim Puka from Kosid said at a press conference that the petition must be envisaged with all of its points.
During the parliamentary session, prime minister Isa Mustafa said that this year the price of electricity will not increase.
“I believe that all structures must look at the structure of price, what is the producer’s price and what must be the price for those who consume electricity,” he stated.
Naser Osmani, head of the parliamentary Committee for Budget and Finance, said the request to control the price of electricity is against the constitution and the free market.
According to him, the free market means that prices of electricity are not only affected by local production, but also by imports. Electricity is a product like any other and it must be treated as such, he said.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
