Albanian 
rishtina, June 30, 2020 – The American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo estimates that the creation of a favorable environment which would guarantee the reliability of electronic transactions, serves as a precondition for the development of digital economy. The Law on Electronic Identification and Trust Services in Electronic Transactions in addition to contributing to the development of digital economy would also reduce the administrative burden for electronic transactions with parties, and increase the efficiency of business processes by significantly reducing costs while at the same time providing businesses with a larger customer base through increasing the security in electronic transactions.
In this regard, AmCham’s Digital Economy Committee has argued on the need to draft the appropriate legal framework over the past years. In July 2019, the Government of Kosovo has approved the Draft Law on Electronic Identification and Trust Services in Electronic Transactions, however, due to political developments, the draft law could not be processed in the Assembly and receive the approval of MPs.
The restriction of activities and avoidance of physical contact following COVID19 outbreak has prompted businesses to transform their operations by using the advantages of digital technology. Nevertheless, Kosovar businesses have been limited in this regard due to the lack of legislation that would allow the realization of electronic transactions including their payment, but most importantly the recognition by tax institutions in the country. As a reminder, both the Tax Administration of Kosovo and Kosovo Customs, as well as many other central and municipal government bodies generate electronic documents and operate according to the paperless system.
In this regard, taking into account the importance and the need for this law for the operation and further development of all enterprises in the country, with special emphasis on those from the information and technology sector, the American Chamber of Commerce in Kosovo requests from the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, respectively the Ministry of Economic Development to highly prioritize the approval of this draft law.