Over the past five years, the rising prices of basic commodities in Kosovo have become a major concern for citizens. Until now, responses to the rise remained mostly limited to complaints on social media and in the press. However, this appears to be changing. In February, a group of citizens, mobilized through the Kosovo Boycotts initiative, called for a boycott of supermarket chains and applied pressure for price reductions.
This initiative was inspired by Croatia, where the mobilization first began. The movement’s success in Croatia sparked similar actions across the Balkans. Citizens in countries like Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina organized their own boycotts to protest high prices.
Kosovo Boycotts organized its first boycott on February 10, but mobilization was low. Consequently, the impact on business turnover was minimal. For example, on the day of their boycott, business turnover in Croatia fell by 44% and in North Macedonia by 46%. Meanwhile in Kosovo, the decline did not even reach 1%. Despite government responses in Croatia and North Macedonia, institutions in Kosovo have remained silent. Faced with low citizen mobilization, the Kosovo Boycott initiative is now developing new plans to increase its impact.
Given that Kosovo’s economy is largely driven by consumption and imports, several questions arise regarding the potential impact of a widespread boycott. What can Kosovo’s government do to protect citizens from the price crisis? What about businesses? Is a boycott the last resort for citizens to influence a free economic market? And above all, why are citizens not widely supporting the boycott?
To explore these questions, we invite you to join our discussion with:
– Redon Kuçi, representative from Kosovo Boycotts
– Blend Hasaj, executive director at GAP Institute
The discussion will be moderated by K2.0 journalist Uran Haxha.
Join us at the Hub 2.0 next Wednesday at 18:30.
Translation will be provided in English and Serbian.
We welcome you!
Feature Image: Lum Hajrullahu / K2.0.
