Major entry roads to Prishtina were blocked for two hours today as part of a protest led by Kosovo’s business community against the Energy Regulatory Office’s (ZRrE) decision to enforce mandatory entry into the free energy market.
The protest, which began at 10:00 AM, targeted key access points to the capital, including Veternik (routes from Gjilan, Ferizaj, and Prizren), Dukagjini Center (on the Mitrovica route), and the Podujeva approach. Business representatives argue that while they do not oppose market liberalization in principle, they demand more time for proper adjustment.
According to the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, the sudden implementation scheduled for June 1 threatens economic stability, domestic production, and employment. Protesters insist the decision was rushed and made without consultation or thorough analysis.
“The goal is not to block liberalization,” stated business leaders, “but to prevent damage from hasty implementation that could destabilize our entire industrial and commercial base.”
The Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also announced it will initiate legal action against the ZRrE, claiming the process lacks proper stakeholder engagement and poses systemic risks to the business sector.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have echoed these concerns, calling for the postponement of the liberalization deadline and warning of further protests if institutions fail to respond.
