UNMIK/PR/1024
Thursday, 21 August 2003

EFC holds its Fourteenth Session

PRISTINA- The 14th session of the Economic and Fiscal Council, chaired by Acting SRSG Charles Brayshaw, held today, focused on the mid-year review of the 2003 budget and the allocation of the 2002 budget surplus.

The mid-year review and the allocation of 2002 budget surplus will soon be finalised in order to be promulgated.

The Council, continued discussions on the budget development process for 2004-2006 and noted that the government plans to start budget and grants commission meetings, chaired by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance and Economy, next week.

The EFC received the progress report on repealing VAT exemptions for NGO’s which will be further discussed by Pillar IV and the Government for implementation by January 2004.

The Minister of Finance and Economy Ali Sadriu presented a government proposal for temporary lifting tax duties on corn imports. The Council agreed that this proposal should be reviewed quickly by UNMIK Customs and Pillar IV and brought to the EFC again for an early decision.