The EU Pillar also works closely
with a number of economic regulators including:
Civil
Aviation Regulatory Office (CARO) 
The Civil Aviation Regulatory Office (CARO) was established
by UNMIK Regulation No. 2003/18 ("On the Establishment
of a Civil Aviation Regulatory Office for Kosovo"),
and is an independent body responsible for regulating
civil aviation issues in Kosovo. CARO performs its duties
in conjunction with the Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration
(ICAA), consequent to primary legislation in the aviation
sector that stipulates that UNMIK itself cannot perform
any aviation-related functions that, under international
law, fall within the authority of sovereign states.
An agreement between UNMIK and the Government of Iceland
for the involvement of ICAA in performing such functions
was signed on 1 April 2004. Back
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Energy
Regulatory Office (ERO) The Energy Regulatory
Office was established in accordance with UNMIK Regulation
No. 2004/20 ("On the Promulgation of a Law adopted
by the Assembly of Kosovo on the Energy Regulator"),
as an independent body in charge of regulating activities
in the energy sector, including Electricity, Heating
and Gas, all with the aim of achieving a transparent
and non-discriminatory energy market based on free market
principles. Amongst other things, the ERO has the authority
to issue licenses and monitor license compliance for
energy enterprises, approve tariffs for public service
activities, impose public supply obligations, resolve
disputes between customers and energy enterprises, and
issue secondary legislation in the energy sector.
Ongoing ERO’s objectives cover developing an
institutional arrangement in accordance with the regional
energy market; already issued Secondary Legislation:
Statute of ERO, Code of Ethics and Conduct, Rule on
Pricing for the Electricity Sector, Tariff Methodology
for the Electricity Sector, Dispute Settlement Procedures,
and Schedule of Fees; further issuing the prepared Rules
on licensing, general conditions for energy supply,
and disconnection procedures; monitoring the restructuring,
legal unbundling, and incorporation of energy utilities;
and developing and strengthening the technical, managerial,
economic and market review/analyses capabilities of
the ERO’s local staff. More information can be
found on ERO’s website: www.ero-ks.org. Back
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Frequency
Management Office (FMO) Frequency Management
is a reserved power of the SRSG, as per UNMIK Regulation
2001/9 ("On a Constitutional Framework for Provisional
Self-Government in Kosovo" – the Constitutional
Framework). The Frequency Management Office exercises
administrative control and authority over frequency
management in Kosovo. Its functions and duties are set
out in Administrative Direction No. 2004/19. The main
responsibilities of the FMO are to oversee the Kosovo
Table of Frequency Allocations and Utilization, manage
the reserved part of the radio frequency spectrum, cooperate
with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA)
for an efficient use of the transferred part of the
radio frequency spectrum, and to monitor the radio frequency
spectrum. The FMO consists of two sections: a Section
for the Planning and Radio Monitoring of the Frequency
Spectrum, and a Licensing Section. Back
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Independent
Commission for Mines and Minerals (ICMM) The
Independent Commission for Mines and Minerals (ICMM)
was established by UNMIK Regulation No. 2005/2 ("On
the Establishment of the Independent Commission for
Mines and Minerals"), and is governed by a Governing
Board. The ICMM oversees and administers all activities
in the field of mining and mineral extraction in Kosovo.
In carrying out its duties, the ICMM applies UNMIK Regulation
No. 2005/3 ("On Mines and Minerals in Kosovo").As
exploitation licensees pay royalties, the ICMM is a
net revenue earner for the Kosovo Consolidated Budget
(KCB). It should be noted that the mining sector constitutes
one of Kosovo’s main economic comparative advantages.
The ICMM has thus far approved 53 exploration and exploitation
licenses. 18 major licenses with a total gross in
situ value (the value of the mineral in the ground)
of approximately six billion euro were handed out in
July alone. The ICMM has prepared its own business plan
for 2006 and beyond, aimed at attracting foreign direct
investment. Its main points are related to ongoing lignite
mining and the opening of new lignite mines. Back
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Railway Regulatory
Office (RRO) The establishment of the Railway
Regulatory Office (RRO) is pending the promulgation
of a draft regulation that was submitted to the UNMIK
Office of The Legal Adviser (OLA) on 10 July 2004. The
RRO will be established as an independent regulatory
body. The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC),
in cooperation with stakeholders including UNMIK Railways,
is currently working on a policy that outlines the objectives
for the development of railways in Kosovo. Back
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Water and
Waste Regulatory Office (WWRO) The Water
and Waste Regulatory Office (WWRO) was legally established
by UNMIK Regulation No. 2004/49 ("On the Activities
of Water, Wastewater and Waste Services Providers"),
as an independent body exercising the functions of an
economic regulatory authority for all Publicly and Socially
Owned Enterprises that are providers of water, wastewater,
and solid waste services (including solid waste collection
and solid waste disposal services) in Kosovo. WWRO is
accountable to the SRSG who appoints the WWRO Director
and the Deputy Director.
The legal mandate of WWRO consists of: issuing, amending,
extending and revoking service licenses; setting up
and enforcing service standards; setting up or approving
tariffs payable by customers; regulating the mutual
rights and obligations of service providers and their
customers through Customers Charters; establishing and
enforcing a regime of disconnections in case of non-payment;
approving a regime for the settlement of past debts
owed by customers; protecting customers - particularly
ethnic minorities and other vulnerable groups - from
discrimination in the provision of services.
In 2005, WWRO issued service licenses to 14 POEs for
water and wastewater services and to 13 POEs for solid
waste collection services. In future, the WWRO governance
structure shall consist of a Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors will be composed of local experts
and will be accountable before the Assembly
of Kosovo, when the SRSG decides on the transfer
of reserved powers to the PISG.
For more information, visit the Documentation section
of this site.
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