Prishtina, July 28, 2025 — The Supreme Court of Kosovo has ruled several provisions of the Administrative Instruction on Direct Payments in Agriculture as unlawful and has formally annulled them.
In a public judicial session held on July 14, 2025, the Collegiate Panel of the Supreme Court approved in full the legal complaint filed by “Stonecastle Vineyards & Winery” LLC, represented by the law firm “Vokshi & Lata” and attorneys Florin Lata and Urim Vokshi, against the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MBPZHR), represented by Nadir Shyqeriu from the State Advocacy Office under the Ministry of Justice.
The court decision specifically annuls Article 21, Paragraph 2, Subparagraphs 2.1 and 2.2 of the Administrative Instruction (MBPZHR) No. 04/2025 on Direct Payments in Agriculture for the year 2025.
The ruling establishes that these provisions were not in line with legal standards and thus cannot remain in force.
The case was initiated after “Stonecastle Vineyards & Winery” challenged the legality of certain payment eligibility criteria introduced in the instruction, arguing that they created discriminatory or unjust conditions for agricultural producers.
This decision sets a legal precedent and may prompt further reviews of other administrative provisions within the Ministry of Agriculture, particularly those affecting the distribution of subsidies and state support for farmers.
