The 10-day ultimatum issued by Kosovo’s business community to the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO) demanding the suspension of a decision forcing companies to procure energy from the open market expires today. With no resolution in sight, businesses are warning of escalating protests, including the blocking of national roads and highways, if their demands are ignored.
The ultimatum was set on June 11, during the second protest organized by the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, where hundreds of representatives from large enterprises warned of harsher measures.
Agim Shahini, head of the Kosovo Business Alliance (AKB), told Ekonomia Online that ERO’s decision is jeopardizing thousands of jobs and severely damaging the image and operations of major companies in Kosovo.
“The two protests organized by the business community, supported by economic organizations and the Business Alliance, had one sole purpose: to reverse ERO’s decision, which forces powerful businesses onto an open market, and the open and free market is very expensive,” Shahini stated. “This is endangering businesses with over 143,000 employees, and companies may be forced to reduce their workforce.”
Risk to Economic Growth and Competitiveness
Shahini argued that the decision sends a signal that only small enterprises are supported in Kosovo, while the country desperately needs large corporations. “The image of powerful companies is being risked, and with this, we are showing that our policy is only to develop small companies, not large ones. Yet, Kosovo needs powerful corporations,” he added.
Following earlier protests, KEK (Kosovo Energy Corporation) offered to supply businesses with energy for the next six months, but at open market prices. Shahini stressed that these prices remain “very high and unaffordable for companies.”
“We gave an additional 10-day deadline, and that time has ended. Next week, we will sit down to discuss the next steps with the business community,” he said.
Threat of Widespread Blockades and Economic Losses
If their demands are not met, Shahini warned of a comprehensive protest, including the blocking of major roads and highways across the country by businesses utilizing their machinery.
“We will continue with protests. The demands of the business community in Kosovo are to block all roads in Kosovo, including the highway, with all potential machinery they possess. We are reviewing this demand, and if such a demand is approved by all of us organizers, then the country’s economy will suffer great losses,” Shahini cautioned.
He highlighted that the previous two protests alone resulted in an estimated €10 million in economic losses, including halted work processes, increased fuel consumption, and lost time.
Shahini also revealed that three companies have already been directly affected by ERO’s decision: one has temporarily closed sales points, another has reduced its workforce, and several others are undergoing reorganization. “All these were not just workers. They were also consumers, taxpayers, contributors to the economy, and thus our economy is being impoverished, lowering the standard of living through company reorganizations,” he said.
Shahini warned that if the situation remains unchanged, Kosovo risks becoming one of the most expensive places to do business in the Western Balkans and Europe.
