On 18 June 2026, Kosovo and the European Union held the 8th Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) Sub-committee on Internal Market, Competition and Health and Consumer Protection in Pristina, reviewing progress and setting reform priorities under the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The European Commission pressed Kosovo to address long-standing gaps in state aid control, competition enforcement, and public procurement, while welcoming advances in health insurance and banking legislation.
The meeting, co-chaired by the European Commission and Kosovo, focused on recommendations from the European Commission's 2025 Report on Kosovo and the country's reform commitments under the EU Growth Plan. Discussions covered public procurement, competition policy, right of establishment, consumer and health protection, state aid, financial services, and company law.
On public procurement, the Commission encouraged Kosovo to adopt revised laws on Public Procurement and Public-Private Partnerships aligned with the EU acquis, and to strengthen the administrative capacity of the Procurement Review Body, including appointing a fifth board member. It also welcomed upgrades to the e-procurement platform.
The Commission urged Kosovo to address the continued absence of a functioning State Aid Commission since 2021, which has led to a lack of effective decision-making and state aid control, hampering alignment with EU rules. It called for an inventory of current state aid measures and alignment with applicable rules.
In competition policy, the Commission called for the prompt appointment of remaining members of the Kosovo Competition Commission, stronger enforcement, and continued alignment of legislation and practices with the EU acquis. It acknowledged efforts to enhance cooperation with sectoral regulators and welcomed training and awareness-raising activities.
On the right of establishment and freedom to provide services, the Commission encouraged Kosovo to develop a Point of Single Contact for services and continue harmonising legislation with the EU Services Directive. It welcomed progress on a new Law on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications but stressed the need to strengthen administrative capacity of the Department for Regulated Professions.
In health and consumer protection, the Commission welcomed the adoption of the new Law on Mandatory Health Insurance, while underlining the need for sustainable financing of the public health sector and a functional health information system. It reiterated the need for a new Law on Consumer Protection, further alignment on product safety, and stronger enforcement, including more inspectors.
On company law and financial services, the Commission noted remaining gaps in business registration and disclosure requirements, and welcomed progress on the new Banking Law as an important step toward alignment with the EU banking framework.
The SAA Sub-committee meetings are part of the broader EU-Kosovo dialogue, providing direct input into the European Commission's annual reports. The meeting resulted in jointly agreed follow-up actions for Kosovo authorities to implement before the next session.