Chambers of trade and industry in Kosovo are calling for a large-scale protest tomorrow, June 11, against the Energy Regulatory Office’s (ERO) decision to implement a free energy market, effective June 1. They are urging businesses and citizens to join the demonstration, demanding a one-year postponement of the new system.
The protest is scheduled to take place tomorrow from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in “Skënderbeu” Square in Prishtina, it was announced at a press conference.
Businesses Face “Forcible Entry” into Free Market
Lulzim Rafuna, head of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, described the move as a “forcible extraction of 1,300 businesses into the free market.” He emphasized the impact on consumers, stating, “The protest will be tomorrow from 11 AM to 12 PM. We invite all those affected to join for the good of the country, for the good of consumers, because in the end, citizens will pay the price increase.”
Rafuna urged ERO to reconsider, clarifying that businesses are not against the free market in principle, but seek a transition period for preparation. “We have only one request: for there to be a transition period so that businesses can prepare and have more offers and more opportunities than there are today,” he said. Rafuna warned that protests will not stop if the government doesn’t reflect, highlighting that 143,000 families are at risk, and “business is in its biggest crisis today.”
Minimal Business Agreements Reached
Skënder Krasniqi, chairman of the Board of the Kosovo Chamber of Trade and Industry, revealed that out of 1,300 businesses affected, only three have managed to reach an agreement with KEK (Kosovo Energy Corporation).
“Over 99 percent of businesses have not reached an agreement because they are not satisfied and know the consequences of this agreement,” Krasniqi stated. He appealed to citizens, workers, and businesses to join the protest, emphasizing that the unpredictable market prices will lead to skyrocketing costs and “the damages will be significant.”
Businesses previously protested on May 29, blocking entry and exit points in Prishtina, to express their dissatisfaction with the rapid implementation of the free electricity market.
