Challenges in mining legislation and regulatory setup-evidence from Kosovo

Abstract

Mining sector in Kosovo is of crucial importance for the economic development of the country. Since 1999, it has been considered as one of the main areas that would attract foreign investments and thus improve the economy of a young country emerging from the conflict of 1998–1999. Kosovo has in place legal and institutional framework for mining sector since 2005 but still the functionality and effectiveness remains questionable. The complex nature of the mining sector consequently involves many different laws and institutions followed by few challenges in this sector since 1999. The purpose of this paper is to outline the existing legal and institutional framework of the mining sector, focusing on the challenges involving both gaps in legislation and the implementation. The paper aims to conclude that legislative changes and improvements may be required to enable more efficient functioning of the mining sector which would have a positive impact in the attraction of foreign investments.