Kosovo will impose the use of the euro in minority Serb areas, concerning Western powers
Kosovo authorities say they will impose the use of the country’s currency, the euro, and abolish the use of neighboring Serbia’s dinar in the north where most of the ethnic Serb minority lives
By FLORENT BAJRAMI and LLAZAR SEMINI
Published - Jan 31, 2024, 07:27 PM ET
Last Updated - Jan 31, 2024, 07:27 PM EST
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo authorities on Wednesday said they would impose the use of the country’s currency, the euro, and abolish the use of neighboring Serbia’s dinar in the north where most of the ethnic Serb minority lives.
Kosovo’s Central Bank Governor Ahmet Ismaili said starting Thursday, new rules on local transactions in euros would be applied in the northern municipalities, and all financial institutions there should register in the next month. Four banks and 15 financial institutions use Serbia’s dinar.
The governor said the new rules were not targeting Serbia’s dinar.
But the decision has sparked concern among Western powers fearing more tension in Kosovo’s relations with Serbia. They have urged Pristina to postpone the move.
