Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
196 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the economic situation in Kosovo, its population, GDP, income per capita, and rate of unemployment; and the assistance that is being given by Ireland towards its economic development. [8813/04]
View answerDespite progress in recent years under the administration of the UN mission in Kosovo, the situation remains tense. Together with our EU partners, the Government fully support the special representative of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Harri Holkeri, in his work to ensure the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1244.
The EU is committed to a stable future for a secure, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo with its place in Europe. Through the EU pillar of UNMIK, the EU has particular responsibility for reconstruction and economic development in Kosovo. In the four years to end of 2003, the EU has provided almost €960 million in assistance to Kosovo.
Notwithstanding significant international assistance since 1999, the economy of Kosovo remains underdeveloped. Given the political circumstances there, statistical data are unreliable. The last census figures, dating from March 1991, show that the population then was 1,956,196. However, many ethnic Albanians boycotted this census. The Statistical Office of Kosovo estimates the current population to be still some 1.9 million. One third of the population is under 15 years of age, and more than 50% is under 25. According to the UNDP, 70% of those aged between 16 and 24 are unemployed while overall unemployment is estimated to be between 49% and 57%. Gross domestic product in 2001 was estimated to be under €1.2 billion, rising to almost €1.3 billion in 2003. On that basis, average per capita income in 2003 was about €684.
The Government, through Development Cooperation Ireland, has provided €950,000 in direct bilateral assistance in the past two years in support of health, education, employment generation and democratisation. Assistance has also been provided to the UNMIK office of missing persons and forensics which, through its work on the identification of remains, is helping to address one of the most sensitive post-conflict issues, and to UNMIK's refugee return programme.
In addition, Ireland funds the regional activities of multilateral agencies active in the western Balkans, giving in excess of €550,000 in assistance in 2003. We also provide direct support for the privatisation process in Kosovo through grant assistance channelled through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. We support the efforts of the OECD and the stability pact for south-eastern Europe to encourage foreign investment and facilitate trade.
